80th Flying Training Wing holds change of command ceremony

Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls gained a new commander during the 80th Flying Training Wing change of command ceremony on Wednesday.

Col. Mitchell J. Cok gave one last salute as the outgoing 80th Flying Training Wing Commander and made way for the incoming commander, Col. Jeffrey D. Shulman.

Shulman was previously stationed at the Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea where he was the deputy commander of the 8th Fighter Wing.

"I'm excited to learn more about the mission, learn more about the people and take a leap forward," he said.

Shulman comes in to Sheppard with 21 years of service, including 170 combat hours in the F-16 and more than 2,200 hours in fighter aircraft under his belt.

He is not only eager to learn but to pass down the knowledge he has gained to future pilots.

"We're not just making people that can fly airplanes with left hand and right hand," Shulman said. "We're making future leaders that are going to fight and win our nation's wars."

During the ceremony, the families of the outgoing and incoming commanders, were in attendance, as well as a few prominent city of Wichita Falls figures.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 80th FTW Change of Command