New AFIA commander enthusiastic about assignment

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  After flying bombers for a living, running the Kirtland-based Air Force Inspection Agency might appear to be a major change of pace for Col. Leland Bohannon, but the career officer sees this as a great opportunity and an exciting challenge.

"Here, we see the entire Air Force everywhere," he said. "We have the opportunity to see how units are serving the overall mission and we get to coach and mentor those units. It's very rewarding."

In April, Bohannon took over as AFIA commander, replacing Brig. Gen. Richard Coe.

A 1994 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Bohannon has over 3,300 hours as a pilot. He flew T-37B and T-38A trainers, transported dignitaries and did medical evacuations on the C-21A passenger jet and the C-5 cargo plane. He also flew B-2A and B-52H bombers. Bohannon has a command pilot aeronautical rating and has served as a flight instructor and evaluator.

AFIA serves as the operational arm of the Air Force Inspector General. It covers all Air Force functions, departments and missions, including aerospace medicine, education and training; force support; nuclear weapons; and security and space operations. Bohannan said the 110 active duty and civilian inspectors must meet a very high standard of professionalism.

"You've got to know your job, be an expert in it and conduct yourself with honor," Bohannon said. "To evaluate a unit the best way possible means we must be vigilant and observe too closely sometimes. But that's the job."

Bohannon does not view his agency's role as simply finding fault and nothing else.

"It's not bad to find stuff wrong. It's actually a good thing," he said. "Our inspectors tell us about our combat capability and are the eyes and ears of (Air Force Inspector General Lt. Gen. Gregory Biscone). Ultimately, we've got to paint a picture that allows the Secretary of the Air Force (Deborah Lee James) and the Chief of Staff (Gen. Mark A. Welsh III) to make decisions."

Prior to arriving at Kirtland with his wife, daughter and three sons, Bohannon was vice commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. He flew combat missions over Afghanistan as commander of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He served as director of operations for the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and executive officer to the commander of the Eighth Air Force at Barksdale, along with other postings.

Bohannon said he fondly remembers the days at Whiteman flying the B-2. It was a one-of-a-kind experience, he said.

"The B-2 community is unique," he said. "There's only that one base with the B-2, so the community is tight. Since you get people from all over the Air Force, when you have a tactical problem to be solved there's probably somebody in the unit who has the experience to help you solve it."

He remembers the missions over Afghanistan with fondness, Bohannon said.

"I was proud to serve with so many great Airmen," he said.

Bohannon's awards include a Bronze Star (earned in Afghanistan), Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

In addition to his Air Force Academy bachelor's degree in biology, he has master's degrees from George Washington University, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and Eisenhower School at Ft. McNair, Washington.