New commander takes charge at Davis-Monthan

The 355th Fighter Wing held a change-of-command ceremony this morning to welcome Col. P.J. Johnson, who is taking over for Col. Kent Laughbaum.

D-M leadership typically changes every two years. Laughbaum arrived in the summer of 2006.

Johnson trained at D-M in the 1980s. He’s a command pilot with more than 2,500 hours in the A-10 and most recently worked at the Pentagon as an executive officer to the Air Force’s vice chief of staff. He is also a recipient of several decorations, including the Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

According to a D-M press release, the change-of-command ceremony is “a time-honored military tradition” that “allows other airmen to personally witness the command authority passing from one officer to another.”

Johnson is the 48th commander of Davis-Monthan’s host wing.