Institute welcomes new assistant commandant

by | Jun 29, 2015 | News

By Patrick Bray
DLIFLC Public Affairs


 

Institute welcomes new assistant commandant

Colonel Ginger Wallace relinquished responsibility of her position as assistant commandant at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center to Col. Keith Logeman (right) during a change of command ceremony June 26 on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California. (Photo by Sal Marullo)

MONTEREY, Calif. – Colonel Ginger Wallace relinquished responsibility of her position as assistant commandant at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center during a change of command ceremony June 26 on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California.

Colonel Keith Logeman assumed responsibility as DLIFLC assistant commandant, which also includes command of the U.S. Air Force’s 517th Training Group.

“I am passionate about this institute and this training group. I am convinced you are the right person to take both organizations to even bigger successes,” said Wallace to Logeman.

“I have known Ginger since we were captains at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the last ten days she’s continued to teach me about this amazing institute as she did then,” said Logeman.

Wallace also thanked DLIFLC instructors for teaching students more than six to seven hours per day.

“You are the heart and soul of this institute,” she said.

Institute welcomes new assistant commandant

Colonel Ginger Wallace relinquished responsibility of her position as assistant commandant at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center during a change of command ceremony June 26 on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California. (Photo by Gary Harrington, DLIFLC Public Affairs)

As assistant commandant, Wallace was responsible for more than 1,800 faculty members and 250 joint-service staff providing language training and operational support. As Commander of the 517th Training Group, she lead two squadrons composed of 1,200 Airmen, the majority of whom are cryptologic linguists.

For her leadership and service, Wallace was awarded the Legion of Merit, one of the U.S. Armed Forces’ highest awards, from Col. Kimberlee Joos, commander of the 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, which is responsible for the 517th Training Group.

Logeman will assume these same responsibilities from Wallace, but first thanked his family for their patience in the many moves that military families must endure.

“This is the fourth move in five years, and I just want to tell you how proud I am of you for making this transition and supporting my career with grace and a smile on your face,” said Logeman. “I promise we will have a blast during this command tour.”