Change is here for the Ellsworth Air Force Base beyond the incoming B-21 bomber.
With a change of command ceremony, a new hand guides the base as the largest investment in the bases history is in full swing.
Col. Derek Oakley, known affectionately as ‘shades’ by his fellow airmen, is retiring after decades in the Air Force. He offered his final salute to those under his command at the ceremony.
Relieving him and taking command of the base and bomb wing is Col. Erick Lord, who is relying on two decades of experience to guide him moving forward.
“Speaking with some mentors last night, when they were in my shoes and I was a lieutenant and captain, it’s hard to grasp, right? I trust the general officers that think I’m the right guy to do this job, and I’m not going to disappoint them," Lord said. "But it feels pretty cool.”
He said he’s also banking on the work of the prior command, which laid the groundwork for much of the construction already happening on base.
“Col. Oakley has already got that train moving, and all those areas identified the 28th Bomb Wing is already behind that, but the wing will see a change here," Lord said. "Because we are going to focus on the attention to detail needed to bring a nuclear mission back to Ellsworth Air Force Base.”
The B-21 project is expected to be a major economic and population driver for the Black Hills, with thousands of new families expected to be assigned to the area and millions worth of construction projects associated with the bomber.
