Photo By Whitney Katz | Pictured from left to right, U.S. Air Force Col. Rick Watson, outgoing commander of...... read more read more
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. - U.S. Air Force Col. Rick Watson relinquished command of the Joint Planning Support Element (JPSE) to U.S. Air Force Col. Rhude Cherry in a ceremony at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) headquarters in Norfolk, Va. on June 28. Watson served as the JPSE commander, following the departure of U.S. Air Force Col. Timothy Sundvall, JPSE’s former commander, in April 2013 for another position.
The JECC provides mission-tailored joint capability packages to combatant commanders and is ready to deploy anywhere in the world within hours of notification, to help the joint force establish the ability to command and control emerging operations. JPSE is one of the JECC’s three subordinate joint commands and provides rapidly deployable, tailored, joint planners with expertise to accelerate the formation and increase the effectiveness of a joint force headquarters.
“JPSE has evolved rapidly and met their mission effectively,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Scott A. Stearney, the commander of the JECC and the presiding officer during the change of command. “None of this would have been possible without the steady leadership of Colonel Watson in the last few months.”
In the time that Watson has commanded JPSE, the command has been involved in a variety of real world operations and geographic combatant command exercises including the completion of two notable deployments in support of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM).
In April, four members of JPSE deployed to the Combined Joint Task Force –Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in Djibouti, Africa to assist with planning efforts and provide expertise in the Joint Operation Planning Process for the CJTF-HOA staff.
Additionally, after supporting USAFRICOM’s Operation Juniper Micron (OJM) for close to four months, the final JPSE members redeployed in May. JPSE members accelerated the planning and execution of OJM at both the strategic and operational levels with personnel initially deployed to USAFRICOM headquarters and a small JPSE team re-located to U.S. Army Africa, which was designated as Task Force Juniper Micron.
“I have never said ‘no’ to an opportunity to command,” said Watson, who will be retiring in August, of his short time commanding JPSE. “I am humbled by what you all do in the JPSE; it has been a pleasure to serve with you all.”
Cherry assumes command of JPSE following completion of the Joint Advanced Warfighter School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va. “I salute the efforts of the JPSE members,” said Cherry, upon assuming command. “I’m looking forward to getting involved deeper and embracing the great mission of this command.”
Cherry graduated from The Citadel in 1988 and was commissioned in 1990 from the Academy of Military Science, the Air National Guard’s Officer Training School. Cherry is a command pilot with over 2,300 hours and has served as an F-16 Operations Inspector, Chief of Wing Safety and commander of the 548th Combat Training Squadron. Following a tour as a member of the Afghanistan/Pakistan Hands program, Cherry immediately deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan to serve as the Operations Officer for the Commander, International Security Assistance Force Advisory and Assistance Team.
Cherry has also attended the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College and has received a master’s degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Joint Service Commendation Medal, among others.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2013 13:07 |
| Story ID: | 109625 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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