Utah air base fighter wing gets new commander

Hill Air Force Base's 388th Fighter Wing has a new commander: Col. Lance K. Landrum.

Landrum assumed command of the wing from Col. Scott C. Long on Friday.

As commander, Landrum will be in charge of more than 1,500 military and civilian employees who keep 48 assigned F-16 fighter jets ready for combat. The 419th Fighter Wing, with its 450 Reservists, is also his responsibility.

Landrum also oversees the Utah Test and Training Range, the vast expanse west of the Great Salt Lake where his pilots will train.

He comes to HAFB from the United States Mission to NATO, a joint embassy comprised of State, Defense and other federal agencies. He was the senior military adviser in the USNATO Office of the Defense Advisor.

Before that, Landrum was an aide de camp to the U.S. Air Force chief of staff and he has held a variety of positions in F-16 fighter operations.

He is a command pilot with more than 2,400 fighter flying hours, including 397 combat hours.

Long, commander of the 388th for the past two years, had been tapped for promotion to brigadier general and to take command of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy. He decided instead to retire.

Spokeswoman Andrea Mason said Long's reasons were personal; he will retire in coming months.

kmoulton@sltrib.com