Thunderbirds get a new leader

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

The Air Force Thunderbirds have a new leader following a recent change of command ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base.

Lt. Col. John Venable handed over command of the unit to Lt. Col. Richard McSpadden during a ceremony at the Thunderbird hangar Jan. 25.

McSpadden becomes the 27th leader in the Thunderbirds' 48-year history. He will lead all air demonstrations in 2002 and 2003 and oversee the squadron of 120 people.

Prior to his selection to the Thunderbirds, McSpadden served as operations officer for the 1st Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, with more than 2,500 hours in the F-15 and the F-16, the plane used by the Thunderbirds.

McSpadden entered the Air Force in 1993 from the University of Georgia Reserve Officer Training Corps. The colonel has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Georgia and a master's in public administration from Troy State University.

Venable took command of the Thunderbirds in January 2000. He led the squadron through 111 official air demonstrations in front of more than 14 million people in the United States, Canada and Europe.

The Thunderbirds' next scheduled public demonstration in Las Vegas is scheduled for the Nellis Open house on Oct. 5 and 6.

Durango triumphs

Durango High School's Air Force Junior ROTC drill team marched away from the recent drill meet held at Basic High School with an overall first place trophy, as well as first place in each of the three drill and ceremony categories that make up the competition.

Durango Cadet Jane Elzeftway commanded the team's color guard unit, and Miguel Castro led the rifle team.

Durango's Anthony Curry, the last cadet standing following individual drill down competition at the meet, outlasting more that 300 cadets from Nevada, California and Arizona.

Durango senior aerospace science instructor Lt. Col. James McElvey said he was extremely proud of his cadets' performance and noted that both Clark and Centennial High School teams put up some stiff resistance even though they fielded partial teams.

"They will be powers to contend with at the Clark County School District meet in April," McElvey said.

In brief