{"id":24726,"date":"2017-11-29T20:01:47","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T20:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/29\/air-force-thunderbirds-commander-relieved\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:39:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:39:48","slug":"air-force-thunderbirds-commander-relieved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2017\/11\/29\/air-force-thunderbirds-commander-relieved\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force Thunderbirds commander relieved"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lt. Col. Jason Heard, the commander of the Thunderbirds, has been relieved, the Air Force announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heard, who has led the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron since Jan. 6, was relieved by Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile Heard led the team through a highly successful show season, Leavitt lost confidence in his leadership and risk management style,\u201d according to an Air Force release. \u201cLeavitt determined that new leadership was necessary to ensure the highest levels of pride, precision and professionalism within the team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heard was relieved Nov. 20 at the conclusion of the 2017 season, according to the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one that is ultimately in the best interests of the Thunderbird team,\u201d Leavitt said. \u201c I am personally grateful for Jason’s dedication to the 2017 season.\u201d
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Lt. Col. Jason Heard was relieved of command of the Thunderbirds on Nov. 20. (Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Thunderbirds had a highly publicized mishap during Heard\u2019s tenure. In June, an F-16D crashed when it landed too fast, skidded off a wet runway and overturned in the grass, injuring the pilot, according to an Accident Investigation Board. The $29 million aircraft was destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Heard\u2019s removal was unrelated to that incident, according to Maj. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for the Thunderbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis decision was based on Brig. Gen. Leavitt having lost confidence in his leadership in risk management style,\u201d Geoffroy said in an email to Air Force Times. \u201cWhile 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe team dynamic in the Thunderbirds is absolutely unique,\u201d Geoffroy said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t