.da_story_info span
{
color: #333333;
}
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Barbara A. Jones, the outgoing commander of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Pope Field, N.C., took command of the 30th Medical Group here during a ceremony at the Pacific Coast Club at 10 a.m. Aug. 8.
Jones replaces Col. Janice D. Wallace, who will depart Vandenberg to serve as the vice commander of the 79th Medical Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Colonel Jones' past assignments include being the executive officer to the Assistant Surgeon General in 2003 at the Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. In 2004, she was the 89th MDG Family Practice deputy flight commander at Andrews Air Force Base. Then, in 2006, Jones became the 18th Medical Operations Squadron commander at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. After serving dual roles as the commander and chief nurse of the 18th MDOS in 2007, Jones deployed from her role as the commander of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to Al Udeid, Qatar, to command the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in 2010.
Jones has a diploma in nursing from Lutheran General Hospital School of Nursing, Ill. She also obtained a bachelor's degree from Aurora University, Ill., in nursing. Jones has three master's degrees in the following fields of study: Business administration, wellness management and strategic studies.
Jones' awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
"To the men and women of the 30th Medical Group, I stand in awe of your phenomenal accomplishments," said Jones. "As your leader, I will give you only my best, as you yourselves have demonstrated time and again. As we go forward we will leverage the momentum created by your past successes to continuously improve performance and increase our values to the wing, Vandenberg mission partners, the community and our healthcare beneficiary population. As we navigate through these complex and challenging times for both our nation and our Air Force, we must remain steadfastly focused on why it is we exist - and that will keep us at the top of our game. Maintaining your exceptional standards of excellence will serve us best. Our nations wounded warfighters and their families deserve nothing less."