CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The 437th Mission Support Group welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony here Wednesday.
Col. Frank Jones, former Air Force chief of protocol at the Pentagon, replaced Col. Nicholas Desport. Colonel Desport's next assignment will be as the installation and mission support deputy director for Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
Colonel Jones was born and raised in Florida. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1980 where he was a satellite communications specialist. He served for two years before he was honorably discharged through the Airman Scholarship Commissioning Program. He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1985.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from the University of Florida where he was also an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate. Later, he earned his Master of Science degree in human resource management and development at Chapman College in California. He also received a Master of Science degree in information resource management at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Why did you join the Air Force?
I joined to serve my country. Joining the Air Force was the second best decision I ever made -- asking my wife to marry me was the best.
What is an interesting fact about yourself?
I ran my first marathon last year which was the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.
What was your most memorable assignment and why?
In my 27 years of Air Force service I've had many memorable assignments. Perhaps the most unique was the one to Yokota Air Base, Japan, as chief of protocol for United States Forces.
How do you feel about coming to Charleston?
I am thrilled to be assigned to Charleston. Charleston AFB has such a great reputation for excellence and I am excited to be joining Team Charleston.
What is the goal and mission of your agency?
Whenever people ask me about the mission support group, I tell them the simple answer is: "If it isn't flying or fixing airplanes, the men and women of the mission support group take care of it!"
What are your expectations of the mission support group?
I expect everyone in the mission support group to come work each day with a positive attitude and a willingness to do everything he or she can do to support the mission of this wing, the Air Force and this country.