{"id":25557,"date":"2020-01-08T19:54:35","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T19:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/08\/ops-group-commander-in-charge-of-pilot-training-at-columbus-afb-fired\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:43:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:43:39","slug":"ops-group-commander-in-charge-of-pilot-training-at-columbus-afb-fired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/01\/08\/ops-group-commander-in-charge-of-pilot-training-at-columbus-afb-fired\/","title":{"rendered":"Ops group commander in charge of pilot training at Columbus AFB fired"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The commander of an operations group that handles specialized pilot training<\/a> at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi was removed from his position last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col. Derek Stuart, who had commanded the 14th Operations Group, was fired Jan. 2 by 19th Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Craig Wills \u201cdue to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,\u201d Air Education and Training Command<\/a> said in an email Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AETC spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday said in the email that Lt. Col. William McElhinney has assumed command of the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 14th Operations Group is the flying component of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus. Its members are part of nine squadrons, and are responsible for the 52-week specialized undergraduate pilot training<\/a> mission at Columbus, Holliday said. The group also performs quality assurance for contract aircraft maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t