JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Lt. Col. Horace Jones assumed command of the 560th RED HORSE Squadron during a ceremony June 3, 2017 at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Although he's the new 560th RED HORSE commander, Jones knows his way around the Lowcountry.
Jones received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 1997, and has spent many years previously as part of the 315th Civil Engineer Squadron and 560th RED HORSE Squadron. He's arriving to Charleston from Dobbins Air Force Reserve Base, Georgia, where he served as the 622nd Civil Engineering Group deputy commander.
His former boss, Col. Lori Walden, 622nd CEG commander, presided over the command ceremony and shared insight about the type of leader Jones has been throughout his career.
“(Jones) is the most experienced squadron commander the Air Force Reserve Command has,” said Walden. “(The 560th RED HORSE) squadron will no doubt be the best.”
When addressing the audience, Jones began by thanking his family for their support throughout his military career. He continued by thanking the members of the 560th RED HORSE squadron.
“To the men and women of the 560th RED HORSE squadron, combat readiness is our primary objective,” said Jones. “I’m determined to make an outstanding squadron even better.”
Jones concluded his speech with the RED HORSE motto, “To the horse!”
Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE) squadrons provide the Air Force with a highly mobile civil engineering capability in support of contingency and special operations worldwide. They are self-sufficient, mobile squadrons that provide heavy construction support such as runway/facility construction, electrical upgrades, and equipment transport when requirements exceed normal base civil engineer capabilities and where Army engineer support is not readily available.