JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Col. Nicholas Evans assumed command of the 613th Air Operations Center during a change of command ceremony held at the Officer Club on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 29, 2020.
The 613th AOC is assigned to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces and supports operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region, an area covering over 52 percent of the globe, and it specifically focuses on integrating air, space, cyber, and information operations to meet campaign objectives established by Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Evans is taking over the position from Col. Jason Rueschhoff, who was selected as the senior executive officer for the PACAF commander.
“I want to thank Jason and his wife, Missy, for everything you’ve done to ensure a smooth transition and I wish you all the best in your next role,” said Evans. “You have the AOC on an amazing vector and you’ve built a great team here.”
Evans added that the AOC has been and will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific
“I am excited and humbled to be joining your team and I cannot wait to get to work,” said Evans.
Col. Rueschhoff thanked everyone who helped make the ceremony possible and those who attended, despite COVID-19.
“I want to thank you [Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., PACAF commander] for being here today,” said Rueschhoff. “I thank you for the trust and the confidence in me to lead the best AOC in the world. The way that you allow us to run in the AOC really helps us to step up our game in the AOR.”
The 613th AOC provides the appropriate commanders with command and control of joint operations through detailed joint planning, target development, weaponeering, sortie allocation, air tasking order production, mission execution management, and operational-level assessment functions.
Evans most recently served as the commander of the 8th Operations Group, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and is a command pilot with more than 2,400 hours in the F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon.