After weeks, months, even years of upheaval at Minot Air Force Base, a new commander is on the job, charged with getting things back in order.

Colonel Douglas Cox has replaced Colonel Joel Westa as commander of the 5th Bomb Wing after the Air Force said Colonel Westa had not maintained focus, discipline, and attention to detail.

The move came barely two weeks after the Air Force removed the other commander at the base - Colonel Christopher Ayers from his spot leading the 91st Missile Wing and replaced him with Colonel Fred Stoss.

Jim Olson introduces us to the newest commander at Minot Air Force Base, Colonel Douglas Cox.

You might say that Colonel Douglas Cox's path to becoming commander of the 5th Bomb Wing began back in August of 2007 when six nuclear warheads were accidentally flown from Minot Air Force Base across the country. That mishap started a series of events that cost dozens of people their jobs - and ultimately put Colonel Cox behind the desk.

(Col. Douglas Cox, 5th BW Commander) "Our first priority is to make sure we are ready."


Ready for what will be a series of inspections of the two bomber squadrons he oversees - including the brand new 69th. It was the failure of the 69th to be declared ready to do its nuclear mission that Air Force officials gave as a key reason for the ouster of former commander Colonel Joel Westa, who had been sent to Minot to resotre the bomb wing's reputation following that 2007 incident.

(Col. Douglas Cox, 5th BW Commander) "Safe, secure, and credible. And building that credibility is one of the biggest challenges that we are working on. We feel we present a credible mission capability right now but there is always room for improvement."


Colonel Cox says he considers it an honor to command the men and women of the 5th Bomb Wing. And he wants the public to know that the Air Force has been making command changes with one thing in mind - the safety and security of the nuclear weapons systems they control.

(Col. Douglas Cox, 5th BW Commander) "The Air Force is emphasizing accountability to make sure that I understand as the leader of the 5th Bomb Wing that it's my responsibility to always seek the very best performance and excellence from every single individual."


He says the public should feel reassured by the changes.

(Col. Douglas Cox, 5th BW Commander) "I am held to that standard and it's my responsibility to hold everyone in this wing to that standard."


Colonel Cox's wife and child will be joining him at Minot Air Force Base soon. Jim Olson, KX News.

Colonel Cox was stationed at Minot Air Force Base in the 1990s when he served as a navigator on the same B-52s he now is in charge of. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list