176 Civil Engineer Squadron welcomes new leader

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Lt. Col. Jack Evans, in-coming commander of the 176 Civil Engineer Squadron, ceremoniously accepts the squadron flag here April 13, 2014, from 176 Mission Support Group commander, Col. Patti Wilbanks. The 176 CES members recieved their newest commander and bid farewell to their previous commander, Lt. Col. Ed Soto, of 17 years. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt N. Alicia Halla/ Released

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176 Civil Engineer Squadron welcomes new leader

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Lt. Col. Ed Soto, the out-going commander of the 176 Civil Engineer Squadron, speaks passionately to his squadron at a change-of-command ceremony here April 13, 2014. The 176 CES members recieved their newest commander, Lt. Col. Jack Evans, and bid farewell to their previous commander of 17 years. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt N. Alicia Halla/ Released

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176 Civil Engineer Squadron welcomes new leader

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Members of the 176 Wing and local community give Lt. Col. Ed Soto a steps down from command of the 176 Civil Engineer Squadron here April 13, 2024. The 176 CES recieved its newest commander, Lt. Col. Jack Evans, here April 13, 2014, and bid farewell to its previous commander of 17 years. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt N. Alicia Halla/ Released

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176 Civil Engineer Squadron welcomes new leader

Published May 14, 2014
By By Staff Sgt. N. Alicia Halla
176 WG/PA

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard's civil engineer squadron receives their newest squadron commander here April 13 as they hail a farewell to their previous commander of seventeen years.

It was a bittersweet moment for all parties, and Lt. Col. Ed Soto, the 176 Civil Engineer Squadron's departing commander, left on an admiring note towards his unit.

"I'm very proud to be turning over the 176 CES at a time they are the most combat experienced and trained in history," Soto said.

Lt. Col. Jack Evans, the in-coming commander, takes over the squadron with an engineering history behind him. He began his military career in the Army in 1982 and has since served as an engineer and engineer-related positions in both the U.S. Army and the Air National Guard. Evans' accomplishments include commanding two Green Beret "A" Teams and qualifying as master parachutist.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of the Midnight Sun Guardians," Evans said. "I look forward to meeting and working with the members of the wing."