Air Guard training and education center welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center

U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth Lozano took command of the Air National Guard’s training and education center on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base here as Airmen, family, and friends in attendance, and via live broadcast, watched and applauded May 31.

“We are extremely blessed in coming to this organization,” Colonel Lozano said about his family arriving for their new assignment.

“In this new capacity, I intend to take the training and education center to greater heights and lethality by increasing its agility, innovation, and resiliency. And we are going to get there with selfless service, great optimism … and utmost passion; fueled by three values – respect, trust, and engagement.”

Colonel Lozano commissioned in 1996 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan. He served in a variety of financial management assignments at the squadron, wing, numbered Air Force, and National Guard Bureau Joint Staff.

He deployed to U.S. Central Command in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, serving as Deputy Disbursing Agent and as Paying Agent, respectively. He last served as the Air National Guard director of Diversity and Inclusion from the Air National Guard Readiness Center located on Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, commander of the readiness center, presided over the change-of-command ceremony and passed the unit guidon from the outgoing commander, Col. Kerry R. Lovely, to Colonel Lozano.

“These two individuals are very, very, humble servants,” General Nordhaus said, speaking to the Airmen of TEC about their incoming and outgoing leaders. “They bring that [optimism and passion] every day to the organization so that you can reach new heights and help our Airmen reach new heights of readiness.”

Upon addressing TEC’s Airmen, Colonel Lozano said, “I look forward to meeting every one of you. Leverage your diversity, and you can leverage what I have to bring to the team.”

TEC’s roughly 80-plus Airmen assigned from the total Air Force conduct enlisted professional military education and professional continuing education. The campus accommodates thousands of service members annually from the Department of Defense and partner nation armed forces. The center’s Warrior Network broadcasts training, education, and command information nationwide.