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66th TRS change of command

Lt. Col. Erik Haynes assumed command of the 66th Training Squadron from Lt. Col. David C. Rea during a ceremony Apr. 10, 2017, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Haynes assumes command after calling Fairchild home for two years as the 66th TRS operations officer, under the command of Lt. Col. David Rea.

66th Training Squadron

Lt. Col. Erik Haynes assumed command of the 66th Training Squadron from Lt. Col. David C. Rea during a ceremony Apr. 10, 2017, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Haynes assumes command after calling Fairchild home for two years as the 66th TRS operations officer, under the command of Lt. Col. David Rea. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mackenzie Richardson)

66th TRS embraces new commander

Published April 12, 2017
By Senior Airman Mackenzie Richardson
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Lt. Col. Erik Haynes assumed command of the 66th Training Squadron from Lt. Col. David C. Rea during a ceremony Apr. 10, here.

Haynes assumes command after calling Fairchild home for two years as the 66th TRS operations officer, under the command of Rea.

“I am better after two years of working with Lt. Col. David Rea,” Haynes said. “It has been truly inspiring to work for him.”

Before coming to Fairchild, Haynes served on the Air Staff within the A3/5 Action Group. He finished his staff tour as the Mobility, Special Operations and Combat Search and Rescue Programs chief in the Office of Legislative Liaison where he was responsible for procuring funding and drafting legislation to support the President’s budget.

Haynes is a MC-130P Combat Shadow navigator with extensive experience across multiple combatant commands. In addition to his staff tour, he also served as military aide to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology and the Joint Staff Deputy Directorate of Special Operations. Haynes served as the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component-Africa deputy commander and as the 409th Air Expeditionary Group, Detachment 1 commander, conducting Remotely Piloted Aircraft Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance operations in support of Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

“The degree of pride, professionalism and perseverance shown across the board with all Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists, especially in the 66th TRS is remarkable,” Haynes said. “The drive you have to succeed and the dedication to excellence is unparalleled to anything I have ever seen during my time in the Air Force. I’m honored to be a part of this family and privileged to lead this team, be your commander and serve you the best I can.”

Col. John Groves, 336th Training Group commander, officiated the change of command.