LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen from the 96th Flying Training Squadron gathered at Anderson Hall to witness a transition of leadership as Lt. Col. Andrew Calhoun relinquished command to Lt. Col. Daniel Yawn during a change of command ceremony, Nov. 7.
Col. Anthony Straw, 340th Flying Training Group commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke about the constant shifts the Air Force faces while praising both Calhoun and Yawn.
“Today, our Air Force is about change,” said Straw. “This ceremony is no different as we continue evolving to prepare ourselves for the next challenges that await us. Lt. Col. Calhoun was a tremendous leader, and I have the utmost confidence that Lt. Col. Yawn will continue the tradition of creating the world’s greatest pilots.”
Prior to assuming command, Lt. Col. Yawn served as the 96th FTS operations officer. Yawn has held various positions at the Squadron, Group and Wing levels. Additionally, he is a T-6A evaluator and functional check flight pilot.
“Thank you all for this opportunity to lead,” said Yawn. “I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Lt. Col. Calhoun and to be his successor means the world to me. I’m ready to take our ‘Boxing Bunnies’ towards the future and beyond.”
As the 96th FTS commander, Yawn will manage a multi-million dollar budget for personnel, resource management, training and development of 60 instructor pilots and four support personnel.
Calhoun assumed command on the 96th FTS on May 10, 2024. Prior to this assignment, Calhoun served as the 96th FTS director of operations.
“It pains me to know we all will go our separate ways,” said Calhoun. “They say to leave a place better than you found it. I hope I’ve done just that for everyone here and Lt. Col. Yawn is going to do the same.”
The 96th FTS “Boxing Bunnies'” critical mission has remained the same since its reactivation in 1998: train and develop the finest military pilots. This Air Force Reserve unit supplements the remaining three active flying squadrons by training both American and allied nations’ Undergraduate Pilot Training students in the T-6A Texan II and T-38C Talon.
“To my ‘Boxing Bunnies’ you all are the most professional group of Airmen I had the privilege of leading,” said Calhoun. “You never wavered while performing the mission asked of you and maintained a high level of professionalism in the process. Being the commander of this squadron will always be the greatest honor in my career, and I will cherish every moment with each of you.”