KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler AFB will be hosting a change of command ceremony to officially transfer command to the new 81st Training Wing commander, Col. Debra Lovette from current commander, Col. Michele Edmondson. The parade and ceremony will take place Friday, June 2 at 9 a.m., on the Levitow Training Support Facility drill pad.
The 81st TRW is responsible for training more than 28,000 students annually, in 400 courses covering 37 different career fields. In its status as a lead joint training installation, Keesler trains not only Air Force, but Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other military and civilian federal agency personnel.
Lovette graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 as a personnel officer and has held a variety of positions, including agency chief roles, squadron and group commands, Air Staff and executive-level positions. She also deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle in 2002. Prior to her assignment at Keesler, she served as the Director of Manpower, Personnel and Services for Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Interview opportunities will be available immediately following the ceremony at the Bay Breeze Events Center here. Any media interested in covering this event please contact the Public Affairs office by 4 p.m. Thursday, June 1 at (228) 377-2783 or e-mail us at 81trw.pa@us.af.mil.