Wing prepared to welcome new commander

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicholas Plante
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The former chief of strategy of the Directorate of Strategy, Policy and Assessments at Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany, is scheduled to take command of the 39th Air Base Wing at  Aug. 11. 

Col. Eric Beene will succeed Col. Philip McDaniel, 39th Air Base Wing commander, who will be reassigned as the chief of staff , Headquarters U.S. Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. 

Prior to his last assignment, Colonel Beene served as 37th Mission Support Group Commander at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. 

Colonel Beene was commissioned in 1986 from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He is a senior navigator with 1,895 flying hours in the F-111A, FB-111A, F-111E and F-15E. He has commanded at the squadron and group levels. In addition to Headquarters U.S. European Command, his previous staff tours include Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Headquarters Eighth Air Force. 

During his 23-year Air Force career, Colonel Beene has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with one oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.