Patrick Takes Command of 302nd Airlift Wing

Col. Jeremy Patrick assumed command of the Peterson Space Force Base unit as it prepares for a likely further deployment.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military

Wide photograph of an empty airbase apron at dawn with a single parked transport aircraft, rows of empty folding chairs, and a low reviewing stand under a clear high-plains sky. — Col. Jeremy Patrick assumed command of the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Space Force Base on Tuesday, as the unit prepares for a likely further deployment after its extended Middle East tour. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Col. Jeremy Patrick assumed command of the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Space Force Base, succeeding Col. Elissa Lizondo, who had already taken a new assignment and was not present at the ceremony. Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield, who leads the 22nd Air Force, introduced Patrick during the ceremony.

Why it matters

The change of command comes after the wing deployed to the Middle East this year, a deployment that was extended, and after it flew firefighting missions in Oregon. The wing is now preparing for another likely deployment.

The 302nd Airlift Wing flew 335 hours and dropped 6.3 million pounds of retardant fighting fires in Oregon, using eight C-130 Hercules aircraft. The reporting does not specify when or where the wing's next deployment will occur.

The players

Jeremy Patrick

Former KC-135 pilot who most recently led the 433rd Operations Group at Lackland Air Force Base before assuming command of the 302nd Airlift Wing.

Frank Bradfield

Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield leads the 22nd Air Force, the Air Force component that oversees the 302nd Airlift Wing.

Elissa Lizondo

Col. Elissa Lizondo was the outgoing commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing who had already taken a new assignment.

The details

Patrick is a former KC-135 pilot who most recently led the 433rd Operations Group at Lackland Air Force Base. Locally based reservists ran a deployed combat wing that dispersed and continued operations from other locations after the unit's deployment.

November 7, 2026: Patrick assumed command of the 302nd Airlift Wing in a ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base.
2026: The wing deployed to the Middle East and fought Oregon fires; the deployment was extended.
February 2026: The conflict with Iran began.

Season Trajectory

The change of command follows the 302nd Airlift Wing's 2026 firefighting missions in Oregon, in which it flew 335 hours with its eight C-130 Hercules aircraft. Its anticipated next deployment continues a pattern of extended operational tempo established by its Middle East deployment this year.

Residents near Peterson Space Force Base may notice the wing's operational tempo through deployments and firefighting missions. The unit's anticipated next deployment could affect the families and service members stationed locally.

The takeaway

Leadership transitions at operational units like the 302nd Airlift Wing often coincide with sustained deployment cycles, which shape day-to-day life for the personnel and families who support them.