TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Col. Randy Spear, vice commander of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center, took his final flight in an F-15 Eagle with the 95th Fighter Squadron May 1.

This final sortie, referred to as a 'fini flight,' marks the end of a pilot's flying career at his unit or in his military career. In keeping with custom, after landing, Colonel Spear was hosed down with water by his wife and kids as he exited his aircraft.

"I wanted to fly jets since I was 5 years old," said Colonel Spear. "It's truly a dream come true to have spent 21 years flying Eagles."

Colonel Spear logged 22 years flying military aircraft, with 21 of those years and 3,355 flight hours dedicated to the F-15. Starting his flying career in 1987, he attended pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. His next three years were spent at Bitburg Air Base, Germany where he was first introduced to the F-15 fighter jet. Upon his departure from Bitburg, he flew in support of Operation Desert Storm, where he accrued 470 combat hours. Two years after attending Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Colonel Spear went back to the prestigious school as an instructor pilot and taught F-15 radar systems from 1995-1998.

Transitioning to the Air National Guard in May 2001, Colonel Spear flew for the Southeast Air Defense Sector, Detachment 1, a 325th Fighter Wing associate unit here. In 2004, he joined SEADS' Strategy Division, where he served as chief of the division. Then in January 2007, as SEADS became the 601st AOC, he was selected for his current position as vice commander of 'America's AOC.'

"My main goal in my flying career was to be better tomorrow than I am today," he said. "And even though I am no longer flying jets, my goals remain the same and I continue to apply the knowledge and skills that I have acquired in 22 years of flying to all aspects of my job." 

As vice commander, Colonel Spear is responsible for assisting the commander in mission execution of the AOC and subordinate units by directing battle staffs during contingencies and exercises, formulating policies and procedures that support the AOC and overseeing AOC personnel.

The 601st AOC is responsible for detecting, deterring, defending, and if necessary defeating any aviation threat to the citizens of the United States and to U.S. critical infrastructure.

"I have flown with Randy for many years," said Col. David Kriner, commander of the 601st AOC. "As a fighter pilot and as a vice commander, there isn't a better match for this AOC."