Cannon welcomes new commander

Col. Robert Johnston is the new commander of Cannon Air Force Base.

Johnston takes over from Col. Jeremy Bergin.

Johnston assumed the post Monday at a change of command ceremony presided over by Lt. Gen. Michel Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

Johnston is plenty familiar with Cannon.

He “was a squadron commander here from 2018-2020 at the 9th Special Operations Squadron, and prior to that he was the operations officer at the 9th SOS as well from 2016-2018,” said Capt. Jackie Pienkowski of Cannon Public Affairs.

Johnston and his wife Margaret have two daughters.

Conley, who was also posted to Cannon in 2016, opened the ceremony saying, “It’s good to be home.”

Conley spoke of it being a “beautiful day” for the ceremony and the lack of humidity, describing the oppressive humidity in the Florida Panhandle, location of AFSOC headquarters at Hurlburt Field.

Conley cited Bergin’s leadership, through which “the 27th has achieved success.”

Conley noted Bergin’s work in securing housing for junior airmen in the face of a dorm deficit and making improvements in health care.

Conley presented Bergin with the Legion of Merit award for his work as Cannon commander and for facilitating a “complex command across the globe.”

The ceremony included the passing of the official Cannon Air Force Base flag from Bergin to Johnston.

Begin learned in May he’d been reassigned to the staff at Air Force Special Operations Command.

Immediately after officially assuming command at Cannon on Monday, Johnston included in his remarks what he called the “strong relationship between Cannon and the surrounding communities.”

Among local officials attending the ceremony were Clovis Mayor Mike Morris, Melrose Mayor Meadow Forget, Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Kos and Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt.

“Col. Johnston and I hit it off immediately,” Morris wrote in a text after the ceremony.

Morris went on to write he has had the opportunity to spend some time around Johnston in recent weeks.

“It’s clear why AFSOC selected him to command the 27th Special Operations Wing.  He, like those before him, is top notch,” Morris wrote.

Morris noted “there is no doubt that under his leadership, the Clovis and Cannon partnership will continue to flourish.”

“I’ve expressed to Col Johnston how proud I am and how proud Clovis is to be home to Cannon and to support the airmen and families as well as the mission of the 27th SOW,” Morris wrote.