FOR RELEASE: Friday, Nov. 1, 2024
CONTACT: U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chance Johnson, 720-847-9435, 140wg.pa.org@us.af.mil
BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard will conduct a change of command ceremony at 1 p.m., Nov. 3, 2024, Hangar 801, at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.
Incoming Commander U.S. Air Force Col. Ben (“Scrappy”) Couchman will succeed U.S. Air Force Col. Jeremiah (“Weed”) Tucker.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. D. Micah Fesler, assistant adjutant general, Air and commander, COANG, will serve as the presiding officer for the ceremony.
“Col. Couchman's years of leadership and experience make him the natural choice to lead the 140th Wing after a tenured and successful career within the Colorado Air National Guard,” Fesler said. “In addition to his many overseas deployments and thousands of hours in the cockpit of the F-16C+, there should be no doubt of what will be accomplished with Chief Master Sgt. Byron Phillips by his side continuing his role as command chief of the 140th Wing.”
Tucker assumed command of the 140th Wing in May 2023. During his tenure, he led over 1,700 personnel supporting an F-16C+ fighter mission (Air Combat Command), a unique mobile ground system missile warning mission (Air Force Space Command), and a civil engineering mission (Pacific Air Forces). He assured adequate training of assigned military personnel and high-quality aircraft maintenance through timely phased assessments.
In addition, Tucker was responsible for the successful completion of all wing inspections. He established base policies to ensure effective personnel, equipment, funding, supply, procurement, and facility management. He also built and maintained ties with Colorado National Guard State Partnership program partners Jordan and Slovenia, ensuring continued partnership for years to come. All of which led to multiple successful deployments of Air National Guard forces in support of the U.S. interest under his watch.
“Col. Tucker has pushed this organization further in the realms of people, readiness and modernization than we could’ve hoped for,” Fesler said. “He’s set an incredibly high bar for future wing commanders and is an exemplar when it comes to the qualities we strive for in leadership. I know this will serve you tremendously well in your next venture. All the best to you and Kristina. Thank you, again, for all that you have done."
Couchman joined the COANG in 2016 and served as range control officer and range commander at airburst range. Following this he was the 140th Operations Support Squadron director of operations before serving as 140th chief of wing plans and chief of staff. After filling the roles on wing staff, Couchman became the 120th Fighter Squadron commander followed by the 140th Operations Group commander. He recently served as the director of air staff.
Couchman has over 100 high-altitude low opening and high-altitude high opening jumps, and he deployed three times in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan as a strike force and reconnaissance joint terminal attack controller. He is also a command pilot with more than 2,900 hours in the F-16C, having flown over 800 combat hours in Operations Resolute Support and Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve out of Saudi Arabia over the course of three more deployments.
The 140th Wing is composed of five groups, 12 squadrons, and two geographically separated units. The 1,700 personnel that fall under three USAF major commands provide our nation with fighter, space-based early missile warning, and support forces capable of global employment.