SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty will relinquish command of the 82nd Training Wing to Col. Ronald E. Jolly, Sr., March 21 at 9 a.m. at Hangar 1045.
Doherty, whose nomination for promotion to major general was announced March 10 during the closing of the Air Education and Training Command Spring Senior Leader Conference, will head to San Antonio where he will take command of 19th Air Force. The 19th Air Force, which includes Sheppard’s own 80th Flying Training Wing, is responsible for the training of more than 30,000 U.S. and allied students annually. Training ranges from entry-level undergraduate flying training through advanced combat crew training, and ultimately provides fully qualified aircrew personnel to the warfighting commands.
Jolly, who has been nominated for promotion to brigadier general pending Senate confirmation, comes to Sheppard from the Pentagon, where he served as associate director at the Directorate of Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection.
He is a career aircraft maintenance officer and has served tours as an air base wing commander at Hill AFB, Utah, a maintenance group and squadron commander, and military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force. He has deployed multiple times in support of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Jolly graduated high school in Lawton, Oklahoma, and was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oklahoma State University. He is a 1993 graduate of the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course.
He holds master’s degrees in Management from Troy State University; Military Operational Art & Science from Air Command and Staff College; and National Security Strategy from National War College.
He has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.