COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 14th Mission Support Group MSG Change of Command ceremony was held June 7, 2024, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Col. Pedro Matos, 14th Mission Support Group commander relinquished command to Col. Scott Ryder, the new MSG commander.
“As a leader, more than most I’ve come across in my military career, Col. Matos truly understands that his leadership enabled his team to propel the MSG.” said Col. Jonathan Cato, 14th Flying Training Wing deputy commander.
Matos established Mississippi’s first Starbase educational program; oversaw the completion of civil engineering contracts for infrastructure valued at approximately 100 million dollars, renewed dorm refurbishing efforts to support junior Airmen and student pilots, and laid the foundation to support the future of pilot training with the T-7 Red Hawk pilot training aircraft.
“As I prepare to relinquish command to my esteemed colleague and friend, Col. Scott Ryder, I do so with full confidence in his ability to lead the 14th Mission Support Group to a new height of excellence,” said Matos.
Ryder served as the ICBM Chief Cyber Integration Division at Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. There, he was responsible for cyber and communications transition between the LGM-30 Minuteman III and the LGM-35A Sentinel weapons systems.
“It is a profound pleasure and privilege to be standing before you as the newest member of the esteemed 14th Flying Training Wing,” said Ryder. “To the Columbus community, I look forward to our partnership, and to the dedicated men and women of the 14th Mission Support Group, I am humbled and honored to serve with you.”
The mission of the MSG is to provide essential services with a 750-person workforce and $38 million dollar budget, operate support facilities, and infrastructure for pilot-training. It also provides law enforcement, logistics support, fuel, fire protection, communications, contracting, civil engineering, education, recreation, and personnel management for over 10,000 personnel and families to Train World-Class Pilots.