First to fight leader departs for capital

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons. Its low-observable characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and strike its most valued and heavily defended targets without the enemy ever detecting its presence.

In much the same manner, Col. Eric Single, 509th Bomb Wing vice commander, gets the job done smoothly and efficiently, solving the wing's problems with little or no notice.

"He handles everything in such a cool, calm and collected manner," said Capt. Todd Cook, 509th Bomb Wing executive officer.

When duty calls Colonel Single is always cool under pressure.

During night one of Operation Allied Force, the first strikes over Kosovo were led by this command pilot who had previously flown 26 combat sorties in bombers over Iraq and Kuwait. This wasn't the 393d Bomb Squadron commander's first rodeo, but it was the first time the B-2 ever saw combat.

He left Whiteman and his position as the 393d BS commander in July of 2000 after six years in the B-2 program, only to return five years later as the 509th BW vice commander.

"It was really great having the opportunity to come back a second time and watch him get back into the B-2," said Laura Single, Colonel Single's wife. "I think it is by far his favorite aircraft."

After being stationed at Whiteman for nearly a third of his career, Colonel Single departs June 28 to work at the Pentagon.

There he will be in charge of the power projection division under the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. The power projection division supports critical Air Force acquisition and advocacy processes that advance our nation's air superiority.

While a member of Team Whiteman he has seen the B-2 mature from its basic delivery configuration to emerge as the nation's premier weapon system. He has been a part of many of the wing's "firsts," including this year's first-ever B-2 conventional operational readiness inspection.

"Over the past two years we have excelled during both a Joint Nuclear Surety Inspection and our first CORI, as well as leading the way in a variety of AF and DoD level exercises and taskings," Colonel Single said. "It has been great working with the talented team that put all that together. Team Whiteman seems to consistently excel at everything we do and that is something you don't see everywhere.

"If you look at the multitude of command level and Air Force level award winners in all functional areas, you know we're working with some of the most talented people in the Air Force today," he added.

Colonel Single's leadership qualities are apparent throughout Whiteman's accomplishments.

"Leadership comes in many forms and with different focuses, which inherently have their own strengths and weakness," Captain Cook said. "I can honestly say I have yet to find a weakness with Colonel Single's leadership style."

Despite his leadership abilities, Colonel Single remains humble, knowing it takes a team to achieve success

"The B-2 is an incredible weapon system, but the aircraft doesn't do the job alone -- it's our people that make the mission happen," he said.

The colonel often imparts advice on why he thinks Team Whiteman always rises to the challenge at hand.

"I think the old adage of 'if it is not broke don't fix it' definitely applies here," he said. "Our people and our processed have produced consistently excellent results and I would encourage everyone to keep doing what they are doing."

The Alabama native will be missed by Airmen throughout the wing, according to Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Orcutt, 509th Bomb Wing command chief master sergeant.

"It's hard to say goodbye to such a great leader -- his only shortcoming is that he is an Auburn fan," she said. "Colonel Single truly cares about the men and women assigned to Whiteman."

Colonel Single received his commission in 1981 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Auburn University, Ala.

He was also stationed at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., Castle AFB, Calif., Barksdale AFB, La., and Ellsworth AFB, S.D., before coming to Whiteman for the first time in April of 1994 as a B-2 formal training unit instructor, weapons and tactics officer and a flight commander for the 393d Bomb Squadron.

From November 1996 to June 1998 he served as the operations officer for the 394th Combat Training Squadron, and in June 1998 he led the 393d BS as its commander until he departed Whiteman in July 2000.

After four years in Washington D.C., he was selected as the 5th Operations Group commander at Minot AFB, N.D., and led the 40th Air Expeditionary Group during Operation Enduring Freedom before returning to Whiteman as the vice wing commander in September 2005.

He is a command pilot with more than 5,300 flight hours in aircrafts such as the T-37, T-38, B-52 and the B-2. Colonel Single has supported the nation with more than 30 combat sorties in three major operations.