JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The 192nd Maintenance Group welcomed Col. Matthew R. Hummel as the new commander during a change of command ceremony on Feb. 9, 2020, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Col. Mark D. Piper, 192nd Wing commander, presided over the ceremony which bade farewell to Col. Catherine M. Jumper, who takes on the position of 192nd Wing vice wing commander.
Piper welcomed those in attendance and commended Jumper on her accomplishments during her tenure as the 192nd MXG commander since 2015.
“You’ve earned the trust and respect of people throughout our entire organization, across this association,” said Piper. “Throughout all the things that Col. Jumper does, there is an underlying love of maintainers… and that really defines how she approaches command… She knows that the mission drives our requirements every day, but she also understands that at the end of every single decision we make, there is an Airman.”
Jumper was presented the Meritorious Service Medal for exemplary leadership during the response to Hurricane Florence by mobilizing 88 Airmen to lead state shelter operations while simultaneously evacuating 33 F-22 aircraft, in addition to other accomplishments.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served such an outstanding team of citizen Airmen,” said Jumper. “It’s an understatement to say that I am humbled beyond words to have had the opportunity to be your commander. Although it is very difficult for me to leave this outstanding group of people, the one thing that makes it so much easier is knowing that there is no one more qualified to command the group than Col. Matt Hummel. I know under his leadership, the list of 192nd accomplishments will only continue to grow.”
Jumper passed the group guidon to Piper, signifying the end of her time as commander. Piper then passed the guidon to Hummel, bestowing upon him the duty to lead the Airmen assigned to the 192nd MXG.
Hummel joined the U.S. Air Force in 2000, the Virginia Air National Guard in 2006 and became the 192nd MXG deputy commander in 2016. He has served as the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron operations officer, the 192nd AMXS commander and other total force integrated leadership positions at Langley.
Piper spoke to his prowess and professionalism. “You have garnered the respect of your subordinates, your peers and your supervisor alike … There is nobody better postured to bring the Maintenance Group into the next level of success.”
“To the men and women of the 192nd Maintenance Group,” said Hummel. “We’re part of an unbroken line of aircraft maintainers that goes back to the P-51 Ace of Aces and the 352nd Fighter Group’s Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney … Every day you carry on the legacy of those great maintainers and patriots. I’m in awe of what you’ve done, who you are as individuals and what I know you will do in the future. Being your commander is the honor of my life, and I take it very seriously.”
The ceremony concluded with a singing of the USAF song followed by a reception nearby.