HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – Families, friends and members of the Hurlburt Field and Special Tactics community gathered to welcome the new commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing during a change of command ceremony June 4, 2021 at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, recognized outgoing commander, Col. Matt Allen and introduced Col. Jason Daniels as the newest and sixth wing commander of the sole Special Tactics wing in the Air Force.
Before relinquishing command, Allen was presented the Legion of Merit for his time as the wing commander. During his tenure Special Tactics Airmen conducted 2,200 combat missions, surveyed 22 airfields, controlled over a thousand aircraft and eliminated thousands of enemy personnel from the battlefield resulting in the wing being accredited with several valor awards, Air Force and AFSOC level recognitions, all with the backdrop of a global pandemic.
“No wing in our [major command], in fact in our entire United States Air Force for that matter, has either required or produced better tactical and operational leaders for the last two decades than the 24th SOW,” said Slife. “No community has better exemplified the finest of AFSOC or born a greater burden than our Special Tactics community.”
As the new commander of the 24th SOW and roughly 2,500 Airmen, Daniels is responsible for preparing Special Tactics forces to conduct global air, space, and cyber-enabled special operations across the spectrum of conflict to prepare for, fight, and win our nation’s wars.
“No leadership team is better prepared to propel the 24th SOW into the very different yet very exciting future which lies ahead than Jason and [his wife],” said Slife. “A career Special Tactics Officer with broad leadership experience, deep intellect and unflinching moral courage, Col. Daniels is the perfect officer to take the guidon from Col. Allen.”
Prior to assuming command of the 24th SOW, Daniels was assigned to AFSOC Headquarters and previously served as the wing’s vice commander.
Daniels, a Wilson, North Carolina native and 1998 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, has served in five Special Tactics Squadrons as a Flight Commander, Director of Operations, and Commander. Daniels led joint forces in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM-Philippines, ENDURING FREEDOM-Trans Sahara, INHERENT RESOLVE, IRAQI FREEDOM and more, earning him two Bronze Star Medals with Valor and several additional military honors.
“To the Airmen of the 24th SOW, I’m both humbled and honored to serve with you again,” said Daniels. “We’ll continue to take the fight to violent extremists and other adversaries that threaten our nation’s interests.”
Air Force Special Tactics is AFSOC and U.S. Special Operations Command’s air-ground integration force, delivering global access, precision strike, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery capabilities to the joint force. Special Tactics is the most highly decorated community in the Air Force since the end of the Vietnam War and has received one Medal of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, 50 Silver Stars, roughly 650 Bronze Star medals.
“Thanks for the blood, sweat and tears you’ve given for our country and the foundation you set for AFSOC’s Special Tactics force that exists today,” said Daniels. “It is my goal, intent and desire to honor those sacrifices and efforts as we continue to transform to meet the security challenges of tomorrow.”
By 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
What, no push-ups in full dress uniform???
“Allen was presented the Legion of Merit for his time as the wing commander”
Sounds like he got it for showing up to work most days. I’m NOT saying that is why he got it, but in an absence of anything else noteworthy it makes me wonder how many of these are given out for points and as stepping stones.
I’m a lot more impressed when enlisted men get the Legion of Merit, especially when it isn’t senior NCOs.
Again, none of the above is meant to denigrate the above officer, its more a reflection of RHIP.
Stickman,
I can’t say it has never ever happened; but I doubt that a LOM has ever been awarded to a junior Officer, NCO or enlisted soldier. I have never heard of it happening. The LOM is a service award meant to recognize exemplary performance in a position of higher responsibility for an extended period of time. That almost always translates to Commanders at the O-6 and above level, CW5s in command billets, and CSMs at O-6 and above HQs. Often, it is presented as an end of service award to those folks upon retirement. RHIP, but in this case the criteria for the LOM make it clear only those few categories are even eligible for it.
TLB