Command of Dyess Air Force base changes next week, when a new Colonel takes over command of the 7th Bomb Wing.

Incoming commander, Col. David Béen, is already familiar with Dyess, having been assigned to the base in 1991 in B-1 officer training.

Col. Béen joined the Air Force in 1987 and was promoted to Colonel 20 years later.  He most recently served as commander of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The change of command will happen Thursday, July 22 at 9 a.m.

Outgoing commander, Col. Robert Gass, will be stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana where he will serve as the 8th Air Force Vice Commander.

"With my assignment as the 7th BW/CC nearing an end, I reflect back on our extraordinary accomplishments over the course of the last two years," Col. Gass said. "I'm proud to have been a part of this team and humbled to see the commitment Team Dyess has made with serving our country and fellow Airmen."

Among his accomplishments while commanding the 7th Bomb Wing, Col. Gass:

(1) swept the new Proud Shield/Giant Sword competition at Barksdale AFB,
(2) won the Commander-in-Chief's (CINC) 2010 Installation Excellence Award,
(3) welcomed our very first C-130J arrival,
(4) celebrated the Silver Anniversary of the B-1B here at Dyess in conjunction with our annual Airshow, and
(5) broke three world records, are a miniscule highlight of the accomplishments from the past two years.

(Source: Dyess AFB Public Affairs)