Long Takes Helm of 12th FTW, Emphasizing Training as Foundation of Combat Victory Published June 29, 2026 By Sean Worrell 12th Flying Training Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- The 12th Flying Training Wing welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony June 26, 2026, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Col. Peter Lee relinquished command of the wing to Col. James Long II during a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Roy Collins, Air Education and Training Command deputy commander. The change of command ceremony is a military tradition that formally transfers authority and responsibility from one commander to another. The passing of the unit guidon symbolizes the continuity of leadership and the trust placed in commanders to lead Airmen and accomplish the mission. Reflecting on his time in command, Lee reminded Airmen that while commanders change, the mission endures because of the dedication of those who carry it out. "Of everything that has and will continue to change around here, today change is the least important to the work that you do," Lee said. "Commanders, we come and go. Your loyalty to the mission hasn't moved an inch, and I've watched you carry it through every kind of turbulence, and you've never set it down. That is the body that never truly dies." Lee assumed command of the 12th FTW in July 2024 and oversaw the T-7A Red Hawk site activation securing funding for military construction, manpower, and facility requirements to ensure seamless beddown for the Air Force’s first T-7A operating location. Collins praised Lee's leadership, crediting him, his family and his command team with elevating the wing throughout his tenure. "Juice, his family and his command team have redefined the standard of excellence during his tour," Collins said. "Your tenure here has been marked by visionary leadership, unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence," Collins said. The 12th FTW trains Airmen in the fundamentals of airmanship, instruction and leadership while preparing future military aviators for operational service. The wing operates multiple training aircraft and supports undergraduate pilot training and specialized aviation programs across the Air Force. Prior to assuming command, Long served as the deputy commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. There, he helped oversee a wing responsible for providing worldwide air refueling capabilities while supporting Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command and 32 mission partners. Accepting command, Long emphasized the importance of the wing's mission to develop the next generation of combat aviators. "We have a critical mission in the 12th Flying Training Wing, and that is to produce the next generation of the world's best aircrews," Long said. "Those men and women stand ready to fly and fix aircraft to train our next generation of combat aviators." Long also praised the professionalism of the wing's Airmen and underscored the connection between training and combat readiness. "I am proud of your accomplishments and your outstanding professionalism," Long said. "Victory in combat starts with training. Our only way to make lethal warfighters is to train them." Collins affirmed Long’s readiness to lead the wing into increasingly complex operating environments, noting that tomorrow’s missions will require adaptable and resilient Airmen. He closed by offering a final charge: “As you take the guidon today, know that you are taking command of one of the finest wings in the United States Air Force,” Collins said. “From here on, you have the lead.” As commander, Long will lead more than 1400 military and civilian personnel responsible for executing the wing's mission to train warfighters for America and develop the Air Force's future aviation leaders. The ceremony concluded with the traditional passing of the unit guidon, formally marking the transfer of command and the beginning of a new chapter for the 12th FTW.