ARPC welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • ARPC Public Affairs
The Air Reserve Personnel Center welcomed a new commander Jan. 25. 

Brig. Gen. Jay Flournoy shared what it meant to be selected as ARPC's commander.

"When I was first notified I was going to become the commander, the first thing I thought of was, 'What a challenge. What an opportunity,'" Flournoy said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity of working with some true professionals here at the center, that their total dedicated job is to take care of the customer."

He pointed out that his leadership philosophy is basic and simple.

"I want to set a culture and an environment where people enjoy coming to work and they're challenged to come to work," the Alabama native said. "I want people to feel they are contributing to enabling combat power for all the Airmen out there doing great service for the nation - but in an environment where they are treated equally, fairly and given great opportunities to excel."

Flournoy acknowledged the center is going through change and emphasized his goals.

"My goals are to ensure every employee, every teammate, knows we're going to operate here like one team, no seam," he said. "It doesn't matter what patch you're wearing or what directorate you represent. We're going to make sure all employees are informed and they understand the way we're going to turn this ship, the direction that we go as a center, so we can have that seamless help to the customer."

The general entered the Air Force in 1986 as a graduate of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where he also earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2003, he graduated from the National War College where he earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

While on active duty, Flournoy served as a B-52 Stratofortress pilot and T-37B Tweet instructor pilot. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1991 as an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter pilot and became an Air Reserve Technician in 1994. The command pilot has more than 3,580 flight hours in the T-37, T-38 Talon, B-52G/H, UH-1N Iroquois , HH-60G, C-130H Hercules, C-40C and KC-10 Extender aircraft.

He has served as a staff officer for Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Headquarters 22nd Air Force. He commanded the 440th Operations Group, the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group and the 932nd Airlift Wing. Prior to this assignment, he was commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, Calif.

Flournoy's father is a retired Air Force colonel. He said growing up in an Air Force family was a great experience and gave him an opportunity to live all over.

Flournoy and his wife, Anne, have been married for 20 years and have four children ages 7 to 18. During his spare time, the general enjoys RVing with his family. He said they have seen the country coming from the west coast and are looking forward to exploring the Denver area.

As ARPC commander, Flournoy is responsible for personnel support to nearly 1 million Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and retired members, ensuring they are ready to deliver strategic Total Force warfighting capability for the Air Force. From initial entry to retirement, the center provides world-class support for "Generations of Airmen" throughout their military careers. The center is a major command direct reporting unit of the Air Force Reserve Command.