New 131st MSG commander named Published April 27, 2010 By Rachel Knight Missouri National Guard WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Lt. Col. Timothy M. Jones, of Jefferson City, Mo., was recently named the 131st Mission Support Group commander here. Colonel Jones was chosen to command the group, 300 Airmen, that encompasses Citizen-Airman from Whiteman, and Lambert Field in St. Louis. In 2005, the 131st - formerly a St. Louis-based fighter wing - changed designations to a bomb wing and moved to Whiteman as an Air National Guard classic associate unit on the B-2s. This extensive group is still in the process of moving to Whiteman with some personnel remaining at Lambert to support the 157th Air Operations Group and the 121st Air Control Squadron from the Air National Guard. Colonel Jones said the biggest challenge for the group is to really convince and show the active duty that they bring a large amount of skill sets from civilian employment and numbers for stability. "We know our systems," Colonel Jones said. He said the biggest challenge he faces as the MSG commander is to figure out the precise mix to support Whiteman, Lambert Field and Cannon Range, located near Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. "It becomes a challenge because I've been here for 13 years, and I see faces when I look at positions," Colonel Jones said. "I have to look at where that position is best suited and place them there. The most important part is to take care of the people and take care of the mission at the same time." When Colonel Jones began his military career, he enlisted in the active duty and spent time in Germany with the 10th Special Forces Troop. He then received his commissioning into the missile program, before taking a communications assignment for NATO. After that, he decided to go into the Air National Guard. He and his wife, Lt. Col. Nancy Jones, They are both supported in their military life by their six children, Joshua, Jessica, Anna, Christine, Sarah and Jaime; and their three grandchildren, Joshua, Ella and Aiden.