Calhoun takes charge of 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Justin Clark
  • 131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Lt. Col. Matthew Calhoun took command of the 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony here Feb. 7.

"It's been said that squadron command is the best job in the Air Force," said Calhoun. "I'm especially blessed get to do it again. Even more remarkable is the chance to lead a maintenance team of this size and caliber."

Calhoun had commanded the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Whiteman between April 2013 and July 2014.  Afterward, he joined the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Bomb Wing chief of safety.  

Calhoun will be responsible for the 131st's generation of B-2 aircraft.

"Success depends on relationships - our goal will be to strengthen those ties within our own unit, when the 131st BW team, and with our TFI (Total Force Integration) peers in the 509th," said Calhoun.

Calhoun takes command following Col. Mike Jurries, who assumed command of the 131st Mission Support Group in December.

Calhoun gave credit and thanks to his family and to the leadership of the 131st and 509th. 

Col. Kimbra Sterr, 131st Maintenance Group commander, presided over the ceremony and presented Calhoun with the 131st AMXS guidon.  She praised Calhoun's breadth of experience, officership, and leadership abilities.

"I'm confident you'll do great things as AMXS commander," said Sterr.  "Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun has my full trust, not only with this deep-strike aircraft, but also with our most important resource, which is our Airmen."

Calhoun is a 1996 graduate of The Ohio State University, where he earned his commission with distinguished graduate honors through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He went on to earn a Master of Science in Strategic Communication from George Mason University in 2009.  He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 total hours in the T-37, T-38, B-52H, and B-2 aircraft.