New wing commander at Scott Air Force Base will soon implement new strategic plan

Col. John Poole has been the commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing, which runs Scott Air Force Base, for 81 days.

During that time, Poole said he’s tried to learn as much as possible about its daily operations — like how a detachment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture manages wildlife on the airfield or the nuances of each individual squadron.

“There’s never enough time is generally how it feels,” he said.

So far, Poole said he’s avoided making big changes just to make big changes. For the most part, the previous commander, Col. Chris Robinson, and Poole think alike. However, some change could be coming.

Over the next couple of weeks, he and his leadership team will write strategic plans for the remainder of his two years running the base.

From the 10,000-foot view, Poole said he’d like to make sure all members are on the same page, working toward the goal of becoming combat ready, which is a directive from the federal government.

The Texas native returned to the Metro East base after running Dyess Air Force Base just outside Abilene, Texas, in the central part of the state. He served two earlier stints at Scott.