375th Air Mobility Wing welcomes new commander, command chief

Published June 25, 2025
By Karen Petitt
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --

The 375th Air Mobility Wing here marked a significant moment of transition and tradition as a new commander and command chief were welcomed during a formal ceremony today.

375th AMW Change of Command Ceremony — U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Collins, incoming commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing, accepts the unit guidon from Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, 18th Air Force commander, during the 375th AMW change of command ceremony at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, June 25, 2025. Collins previously served at Air Mobility Command headquarters as Chief of the Plans and Strategy Division. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman De’Quan Simmons)

Col. Matthew Collins took command of Air Mobility Command’s “Flagship Wing” from Col. John Poole, who had been serving since July 2023. Chief Master Sgt. Quentin Davis also took his place as the wing’s next Command Chief, replacing Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Andrews.

Collins previously served at Air Mobility Command headquarters where he was Chief, Plans and Strategy Division for the Directorate of Strategy, Plans, Requirements, and Programs. In this position, he served as the command’s lead for strategy, doctrine, wargames, international affairs, and contingency plans.

Davis, who advises the commander on all matters of health, morale, welfare, readiness and professional development of its enlisted personnel, arrived here from Luke AFB, Arizona, where he was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 56th Medical Group.

Poole and Andrews have both served here since July 2023, and Poole’s next assignment takes him across the street to U.S. Transportation Command while Andrew’s next duty takes him to Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, 18th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and presented Poole with the Legion of Merit award for his distinguished service leading the wing through over 1,600 deployment taskings. Poole was recognized for leading the installation through a major flood and winter storm event, while overseeing the stand up of the Air Force’s first Air Task Force. He helped to pioneer an “Aeromedical Evacuation Weapons System Council” that led to advancements throughout the Air Force, and orchestrated the Air Force’s first small-Unmanned Aerial System summit to address innovation, security and improvements in the program.

The general congratulated Poole for how the 375th AMW thrived during his tenure to “truly embody the warrior spirit.” He said there has been a noticeable shift toward a deeper readiness posture where Airmen are more prepared as evidenced by conducting a simultaneous mission assurance and readiness exercise that earned a benchmark for the Air Force. From supporting the Joint Chiefs of Staff to executing Air Mobility Command’s global mobility missions, the Flagship Wing stood firm in its dedication, expertise and readiness.

Before his last salute to the troops, Poole thanked the wing, his family, the community and his wingmen for their support to him and his family these past two years. He also spoke of the history of the base and how Airmen at Scott Field have been part of every major conflict doing their part to “Deliver Victory.”

“Think about what you are a part of because you are literally the flagship of America’s global reach, and that’s a bold claim,” he said. “You provide the mission assurance and critical functions for the … entire global mobility enterprise. … You do all this while projecting forces forward. No matter the model—AFORGEN, XAB, ATF or possibly a DCW—you have proved combat effective in dispersed and contested environments.”

He said the warrior sprit and skill of today’s Airmen were woven into the DNA of Scott Field since 1917, and over the years each generation has prepared themselves for combat, to develop solutions to the problems of their time, and then persevere to deliver victory against their adversary.

“It’s been an amazing journey and a true honor of my life to lead this wing. … I’m proud of you. I’m proud to have been one of you, and I’m proud to be part of this 100-year story of Scott Airmen training for combat and delivering victory,” he added.

Collins, a command pilot with over 2,900 flight hours–800 of them in combat–brings a mix of joint, national and international policy experience to the wing. His background is in the KC-135, having served three operational tours in the tanker including squadron command of the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild AFB, Washington. His international policy experience stems from NATO headquarters in Belgium, followed by an Air Force Fellowship Princeton, as well as the Naval War college in Newport, Rhode Island. He also served in the Pentagon, and as a vice commander at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas. He is joined by his wife, Laura, and their two sons as he takes command of the 3,500-member wing.

Before receiving his first salute from the wing, Collins acknowledged the many mentors and leaders who helped him develop throughout his career. He gave a special nod to one of his former Honorary Commanders while serving as a squadron commander at Fairchild AFB, Washington, who traveled to be in attendance, as well as his father, Pat, a retired Air Force colonel who was also in attendance today. His father inspired him to “fly, fight and win,” and he said he was proud to follow in both his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.

He expressed his thanks for the warm welcome their family has received throughout the transition of leadership and asked everyone to stay mindful of all those who are currently forward deployed “at the tactical edge in the defense of our nation.”

“Events over the last few days remind us how quickly regional conflict can escalate, and, accordingly, our Air Force maintains constant global vigilance and combat readiness. I ask everyone to keep these patriots in your thoughts and prayers as they undertake their solemn duty to guard our country and our way of life. God bless them. God bless the 375th Air Mobility Wing, and God bless the United States of America.”