>> Air Force picks new Thunderbirds leader after former commander removed
The Long Island, N.Y., native also will oversee 130 service members.
Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh assumed command of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony held at the Thunderbird hangar here Dec. 20. https://t.co/sfbSvKZbm7
— Thunderbirds (@AFThunderbirds) December 21, 2017
He replaces Lt. Col. Jason Heard who was removed last month after his commanding officer said he “lost confidence in his leadership and risk management style,” according to an Air Force statement.
They said it was not related to a Thunderbird jet mishap in Dayton. On. June 23, a two-seat fighter jet slid off a wet runway in a rainstorm and overturned in a grassy area at the Dayton International Airport. A pilot was injured during the single aircraft “familiarization flight.”
>> Excessive speed to blame for Thunderbird crash in Dayton
Walsh, a former F-16 weapons tactics instructor, has served with the Thunderbirds for two years and has more than 2,600 flying hours in the cockpit, the Air Force said.
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