Air Force fires Thunderbirds commander because of 'risk management' concerns

Image Unavailable, Please Login "The Air Force announced Wednesday it had fired the commander of the service’s flight demonstration team following a crash over the summer.

Lt. Col. Jason Heard, commander of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron known as the “Thunderbirds,” had been in command since January.

The Air Force did not give a reason for his departure but said his boss, Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, 57th Wing Commander, lost confidence in his abilities and believed new leadership was necessary “to ensure the highest levels of pride, precision and professionalism within the team.”

"This was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one that is ultimately in the best interests of the Thunderbird team. I am personally grateful for Jason's dedication to the 2017 season," Leavitt said.

Two Thunderbirds jets have crashed since the summer of 2016.

The first crash occurred in June of last year during the Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony and the traditional fly-by from the Thunderbirds F-16 jets, not long after passing over then-President Obama and the graduating cadets and their families. One of the F-16s crashed after the single engine on the jet shut down.

A year later, a Thunderbirds pilot and passenger were hospitalized following a crash while landing at the Dayton International Airport.

The Air Force said the leadership change had nothing to do with the crashes, but was carried out because there was a concern about Heard’s “risk management style.”

“While he led a highly successful 2017 show season featuring 72 demonstrations over 39 show sites, concerns arose that his approach to leading the team was resulting in increased risk within the demonstration, which eroded the team dynamic,” said Maj. Ray Geoffroy, an Air Force spokesman.
“The team dynamic in the Thunderbirds is absolutely unique. We are on the road together more than 200 days per year, executing flying operations with absolutely no margin for error. As a result, absolute trust and teamwork in both our professional and personal dynamics are foundational to our mission.”

Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh, the Thunderbird’s 2016-2017 Operations Officer, has temporarily assumed responsibility of the team until a new commander is selected."

Any public evidence this is warranted......or is it just CYA.......? Some of the incidents quoted occurred before he assumed command.......

 

here is a report about the Dayton crash.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/nov/03/inquiry-blames-speed-wet-runway-for-thunderbirds-c/

I have a feeling that this might have been part of the dismissal of the CO.

 

Sometimes a squadron commander's leadership style just does not match up with his flag leader's expectations. Could also have been after-hours issues and only the 57th will know about those, if any. The accident did not help, either, but firings for those usually happen soon after the accident.

 

Totally agree. I bet something doesn’t match between the wing commander and the squadron commander. She didn’t want him around anymore. It’ll come out amongst the ‘hood before long.

 

What does that do to his career? Guess it depends on what happened.

 

I have read stories about the 'old' immediate Post-WW II flight demonstration teams. At the time 'unofficial' flight teams also existed. Essentially, almost no rules existed with some of the teams.



It is fun to talk to the old retired blokes who flew in the USAF and Navy. Today, they may be in diapers but some of them have some amazing and funny tales to tell. Women's lib ? forget it. Socially, the old USAF and the new USAF have almost nothing in common. An entire squadron (59th FIS) was permanently thrown out of the O-Club . Col Sunset. Col Sunset (SAC base commander), gave the ADC Lt until sunset the next day, to pack his bags and leave the base. Scope dopes being verbally entertained by stewardesses in the cockpit, who were flying within the area of the DEW line.

 

No matter what, it will end any chance of promotion.
Although he could probably stay on active duty until his next mandatory retirement gate, most guys in that situation choose to retire soon after.
Will depend on where he’ll retire, whether he has kids in school, jobs he can line up, whether he owes the service any payback, etc..
It also takes about 9 months to process out, much of that time filled with congressionally mandated retirement activities.

 

Depending on what went into his effectiveness report, he may still have a good chance of making O-6. Friend of mine fired as an F-111 squadron commander during Desert Shield ended up with 2 stars because the wing commander still gave him glowing reports as a squadron commander. Can go either way.

 

I agree Taz. However, in today’s environment, it’s hard to see that with a “loss of confidence” and excessive risk.

 

If it goes in his OPR (or whatever they call them now) like that, you are correct.

 

Or, he might already be a select. He won’t get a propriety action for loss of confidence.