965th Airborne Air Control Squadron welcomes new commander
U.S. Air Force Col. James Capra, 552nd Operations Group commander, left, congratulates Lt. Col. Blake Wiegmann after Wiegmann assumed command of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron during a change of command ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, June 5, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Garrett N. Cole
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. — Lt. Col. Blake Wiegmann assumed command of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron from Lt. Col. Jaxon Lee during a change of command ceremony June 5 at Tinker Air Force Base.
Col. James Capra, 552nd Operations Group commander, presided over the ceremony and praised the Golden Falcons for their role in providing airborne command and control, battlespace awareness, and battle management to combatant commanders worldwide.
“The 965th is a critical link in air defense,” Capra said. “They take 1970s technology, and they win the wars in 2025.”
During Lee’s two years in command, the squadron supported missions across multiple combatant commands, maintained readiness amid demanding operational requirements, and helped strengthen the E-3 Sentry’s command-and-control mission. Capra said Lee’s leadership helped the squadron build a culture centered on Airmen, readiness, and mission execution.
Lee was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service as commander from June 18, 2024, to June 5. His citation credited him with keeping the unit combat-ready during a reset phase, saving 6 months of training for 90 aircrew members and enabling support for the G7 Summit and Southern Sphere missions.
Lee thanked the squadron’s Airmen and families for their dedication, saying the unit’s success was the result of a team-first culture.
“You delivered airborne battle management for combat commanders across the spectrum of conflict,” Lee said. “These accomplishments are amazing because you’re amazing.”
Weigman thanked Lee for the foundation he built and said he would continue the squadron’s focus on readiness, tactical excellence, and taking care of Airmen.
“Our mission is very clear: to generate and employ unparalleled combat air power,” Wiegmann said. “But air power doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of you.”
Wiegmann said the squadron must remain ready for an increasingly complex operational environment while continuing to look out for one another.
“We will train hard, execute safely, and we will hold each other to the highest standards,” Wiegmann said. “But just as importantly, we’ll take care of each other.”
The 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron is assigned to the 552nd Operations Group, 552nd Air Control Wing, and provides airborne command and control aboard the E-3 Sentry.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Blake Wiegmann, newly appointed 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron commander, stands at attention as Col. James Capra, 552nd Operations Group commander, left, and Lt. Col. Jaxon Lee, outgoing 965th AACS commander, applaud during a change of command ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, June 5, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Garrett N. Cole
