Col. Degnan takes command of AFFSA

  • Published
  • By Air Force Flight Standards Agency
On June 29, Col. Kevin D. Degnan became the second commander of the Air Force Flight Standards Agency since the agency's move from Maryland to Oklahoma City.
   Col. Christopher Ceplecha relinquished command of AFFSA during a change of command ceremony at Hangar 8 of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.
   The ceremony's presiding official was Brig. Gen. Robert Kane, director of Air Operations and deputy chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements at the Pentagon.
   The ceremony also attracted senior leadership from the Federal Aviation Administration and Tinker Air Force Base including Lindy Ritz, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center director, and Col. Mark Correll, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander.
   "Col. Degnan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AFFSA at a challenging time for our country and our military," Gen. Kane said. "Kevin, I firmly believe that you are the right leader, for this time in the life of this high-tempo organization.
   "Your command, special operations, plans and policy, and recent inspection experience -- and especially your extensive and diverse pilot background -- make you distinctively qualified to lead this flight standards unit as it does its part to support the war fighter in the global war on terror and any other contingency we may face in the future."
   The AFFSA was activated Oct. 1, 1991, as a Field Operating Agency reporting to HQ USAF/A3O, the director of Operations.
   The AFFSA mission is to develop, standardize, evaluate and certify policy, procedure and equipment to support global flight operations and to centrally manage air traffic control and landing systems for the Air Force.
   AFFSA moved to Oklahoma from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Directive, which partnered AFFSA with the Federal Aviation Administration at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, as well as absorbing the Advanced Instrument School from Randolph AFB, Texas and the Global Air Traffic Operations Program Office from Tinker.