9th BS welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman James Schenck
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 9th Bomb Squadron “Bats” welcomed a new commander during a change-of-command ceremony at the 3-Bay Hangar March 9.

Lieutenant Colonel Randy Allen, former 9th BS director of operations, took command of the unit from outgoing commander Lt. Col. Robert Maness who is currently serving as the 7th Operations Group deputy commander, but is scheduled to attend the Naval War College, Newport City, R.I., in June.

Colonel Allen has been in the Air Force for 20 years and moved to Dyess November 2003.

Since that time, he has served as the director of operations for the 9th BS.

Previous assignments include Air Staff at the Pentagon and National Military Command Center where he served as Air Force Liaison Officer.

This is not the first time Colonel Allen has been at Dyess. In 1995, he attended B-1 initial qualification course here before being assigned to the 37th BS at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. He has also served in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and earlier in Operation Desert Storm and Operations Southern Watch and Allied Force.

Colonel Allen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general studies and a commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. In 2000, he earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

He completed Squadron Officers’ School at Maxwell AFB, Ala., in 1993, and Air Force Weapons School in 1998.

Colonel Allen was originally a B-52 pilot and has more than 4,300 career flight hours including 44 combat missions.

His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Aerial Achievement Medal.