80th Operations Group Change of Command

German Air Force Col. Timo Heimbach receives his first salture as Commander of the 80th Operations Group during a ceremony, January 30, 2026 on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Col Heimbach assumes responsibility for 1,100 multination personnel across six squadrons, including training of more than 200 student pilots, 80 instructor pilot candidates and 150 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals trainees annually.

80th Operations Group Change of Command

Sheppard Air Force Base Color Guard posts the colors prior to the 80th Operations Group change of command ceremony, January 30th, 2026 on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Honor guards represent a deeply rooted, time-honored Air Force tradition, dating back centuries, embodying respect and discipline.

80th Operations Group Change of Command

German Air Force Col. Jan Gloystein receives his final salute during a change of command ceremony Jan 30, 2026 on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. During his tenure as commander, Col Gloystein led the group through periods of sustained high operations tempo, resource challenges, and global security uncertainty, while continuing to deliver decade-high production rates in support of NATO requirements.

80th Operations Group Change of Command

German Air Force Col. Timo Heimbach assumes command of the 80th Operations Group during a ceremony on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, January 30th, 2026. Col Heimbach assumes responsibility for 1,100 multination personnel across six squadrons, including training of more than 200 student pilots, 80 instructor pilot candidates and 150 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals trainees annually.

80th Operations Group Change of Command

German Air Force Col. Jan Gloystein relinquishes command of the 80th Operations Group during a ceremony on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, January 30th, 2026. The Change of Command is a symbolic tradition that survived throughout military history that originally served to allow soldiers a chance to see who their commanding officer was.

Col. Heimbach assumes command of 80th Operations Group

Published Feb. 5, 2026
By 2d Lt Rainy Ellis

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

German Air Force Col. Jan Gloystein relinquished command of the 80th Operations Group to German Air Force Col. Timo Heimbach during a change of command ceremony Jan. 30, 2026, at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

The 80th Operations Group executes the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) mission. The group oversees T-6 Texan II and T-38 Talon operations, producing NATO fighter pilots and combat-ready aviators for the Alliance through a rigorous, multinational training syllabus. The group directly supports the 80th Flying Training Wing’s mission to train NATO’s fighter pilots and generate the Alliance’s future combat airpower.

United States Air Force Col. Jeffrey Shulman, commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing and presiding officer for the ceremony, praised both commanders and highlighted the group’s central role in NATO’s readiness.

“The 80th Operations Group sits at the heart of ENJJPT operations,” Shulman said. “Whether it’s launching hundreds of sorties a day or executing under changing conditions, this team proves time and again they are a winning team and the engine behind NATO’s fighter pilot production.”

During his tenure, Gloystein led the group through periods of sustained high operations tempo, resource challenges, and global security uncertainty, while continuing to deliver decade-high production rates in support of NATO requirements.

“ENJJPT represents trust, shared sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment among allied nations to fly, train, and learn together,” Gloystein said. “This program succeeds because of the Airmen who execute the mission every single day, and it has been the honor of my career to serve alongside them.”

Col. Heimbach assumes command bringing extensive operational and leadership experience, including previous service as an air wing commander, assignments within the German Ministry of Defense, and more than 2,000 flying hours in the F-4 Phantom and Eurofighter. A 1997 ENJJPT graduate, Heimbach returns to Sheppard with firsthand understanding of the program’s legacy and mission.

“I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to serve alongside this exceptional NATO team.” said Heimbach. “In a time of evolving challenges, we will remain united in purpose and relentless in our pursuit of readiness, ensuring the next generation of Alliance fighter pilots is prepared to defend our nations—together”

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that formally marks the transfer of authority and responsibility from one commander to another, ensuring continuity of leadership and mission execution for the 80th Operations Group.