The U.S. Air Force activated the 63rd Fighter Squadron on Aug. 1 at Luke Air Force Base. The unit will be responsible for training F-35 pilots for Turkey.
Col. Benjamin Bishop, 56th Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Matthew Vedder as he assumes command of the 63rd Fighter Squadron Aug. 1, 2016 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The 63rd FS is scheduled to begin accepting F-35 Lightning II jets in March 2017 and will be joined by partner nation Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Devante Williams)
The commanding officer is Lt. Col. Matthew Vedder, previously the 62nd Fighter Squadron director of operations.
