U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Bell has assumed command of the University of Virginia’s Air Force ROTC program, replacing Col. Michael Hough, who is retiring.
Bell, a St. Louis native who most recently was the vice commander of the 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing based at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, said he was humbled to work at UVA, which he said is in the forefront of civic education.
“UVA has a very strong STEM programs, which the military focuses on, but it also has business, law and strong humanities programs,” programs that have strong ethics components, which is important for the decisions that military leaders must make, he said. “That is part of the reason that UVA is tops on my list as a place for education, because of what it offers holistically.”
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Bell sees ROTC as foundational to building leaders for the military. He has spent much of his career training pilots or teaching airmen, and he said there are crucial skills which the modern military must continue to focus on.
“One of those skills is critical thinking, that ability to look at a problem from all angles,” he said. “We tend to get locked into a way of thinking, into groupthink, and come up with a predetermined answer, as opposed to looking at a problem and recognizing that I am going to approach it a certain way and you are going to approach that problem a different way. We have to teach how we do that.”
A key element of this is communication.
“Many times, we have the technical skill analyze the complex problem, but what do not do as well is express that complex problem in a simple way,” Bell said. “Many times the world is moving fast enough that I don’t always have the opportunity to be able to sit and fully walk through all the technical ideas that are surrounding problem. We have to distill it down into those things that are relevant in a way that everybody can understand. Institutions of higher education help us develop these skills.”
Bell thinks his broad experience with the Air Force is something the cadets can benefit from. In his 24-year career, Bell has served in a variety of flying and staff assignments, including Chief of Staff, Air Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan; Director of Safety, 7th Air Force, Republic of Korea; and as an Air Education and Training Command flying instructor.
He commanded the 22d Attack Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, where he was responsible for operations and maintenance in the Air Force’s first remotely piloted aircraft wing. Bell has participated in numerous combat operations, including operations Iraqi Freedom (Iraq, 2003), Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terror, 2001), Noble Eagle(military operations in the wake of 9/11) and NATO’s Resolute Support Mission (Afghanistan, 2015 and 2019).
“I am hopeful my broad perspective on Air Force life, service and culture will be able to help shape our cadets, the future leaders of the Air Force,” he said. “Through tours in Germany and tours in Korea, and interacting in and among those cultures add to my experience. This diverse background complements the other instructors here at ROTC.”
Bell said he does not anticipate making any immediate changes in the program, praising his predecessor’s work.
“I think Col. Hough has done an absolutely fabulous job over the last three years, working alongside the University through COVID to continue the development of leaders,” Bell said. “Look at the quality of the lieutenants who have graduated from here – it is absolutely amazing. As procedures in the Air Force change and as policies evolve, we can certainly make changes as appropriate, but right now I don’t see any reason to change anything.”
Bell’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in material science and mathematics from the U.S. Air Force Academy; a Master of Business Administration from Touro University in California; and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
Bell and his wife have moved to Charlottesville, where their five children are attending local schools.
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Article Information
April 25, 2024
