‘Robins Ready, Robins Proud’: Col. Johari Hemphill Takes Command of 78th Air Base Wing at Robins AFB

Col. Johari Hemphill officially assumed command as the 18th Robins Installation and 78th Air Base Wing commander on July 8, 2025, during a change of command ceremony held at the Museum of Aviation’s Century of Flight Hangar.

The ceremony was presided over by Lt. Gen. Stacey Hawkins, commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center, who conducted the formal transfer of the unit guidon from outgoing commander Col. Deedrick Reese to Hemphill.

“Robins continues to be an exemplar of mission excellence for our United States Air Force,” Hawkins said during the ceremony.

Hemphill, previously the 22nd Mission Support Group commander at McConnell AFB, Kansas, now assumes responsibility for the safety, security, and well-being of more than 22,000 personnel and 28,000 dependents and retirees across Robins’ 50+ mission partners. He will lead more than 2,700 personnel assigned to three groups, a communications directorate, operations support squadron, comptroller squadron, and 17 wing staff agencies.

“From my first steps on this installation, it was clear that the 78th has a legacy of excellence,” Hemphill said. “I am committed to carrying that legacy forward with a clear-eyed focus on sustaining and improving the capabilities that will ensure our wing and our Air Force remain ready and relevant.”

Hemphill outlined his vision focused on “mission readiness, Robins proud culture, and Team Robins community,” aligning with the theme: “Team Robins – Robins Ready, Robins Proud.”

A Philadelphia native, Hemphill commissioned in May 2000 through the ROTC program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning a B.A. in History. His career includes assignments at the Department of State, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency, with deployments supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn.

Col. Reese, who served as commander since 2023, was awarded the Legion of Merit for his leadership and contributions, including his work on the “Robins 2041” modernization initiative. He will now serve as deputy commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City.