344th MIB welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brian Lummus and Senior Airman James Salellas
  • 344th MIB welcomes new commander
SAN ANGELO, Texas --  

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan “Matt” Lovelace, incoming 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, awaits to receive the battalion guidon from U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka relinquished his duties as commander of the 344th MIB to Lovelace after commanding the Silent Sentinels for two years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan “Matt” Lovelace, incoming 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, awaits to receive the battalion guidon from U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka relinquished his duties as commander of the 344th MIB to Lovelace after commanding the Silent Sentinels for two years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)
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The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion officiated a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, June 12.

The 344th MIB welcomed incoming commander, Lt. Col. Jonathan “Matt” Lovelace, and thanked the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka, for his hard work and dedication to the battalion.

“I've been in the Army for 19 years,” said Kuderka. “I have never, ever been so connected to a community in any of the 13 locations that I've served . Thank you so much for accepting not only my family, but all the service members into your community.”

U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, pins the Meritorious Service medal on Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka, outgoing 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, before a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Kuderka was awarded the medal for distinguishing himself through outstanding leadership, initiative and impact on the 344th’s Silent Sentinels, the 111th MIB and the 17th Training Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, pins the Meritorious Service medal on Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka, outgoing 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, before a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Kuderka was awarded the medal for distinguishing himself through outstanding leadership, initiative and impact on the 344th’s Silent Sentinels, the 111th MIB and the 17th Training Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)
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During his command, Lovelace will lead the Silent Sentinels and ensure the Soldiers coming out of Goodfellow are tactically and technically competent, disciplined, physically fit, instilled with Army values and ready to join the Joint Team. The 344th trains Soldiers in military intelligence and cyber professions. It has more than 70 classes in session at any given time across over 40 blocks of instruction and three separate companies. The battalion has more than 150 permanent party members and an annual student throughput of nearly 1,500 Soldiers. Before arriving at Goodfellow, Lovelace served as an intelligence officer with Joint Task Force North and U.S. Central Command headquarters.

The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion stands at attention before a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo Texas, June 12, 2026. The 344th MIB trains Soldiers in three different military occupational specialties, military intelligence, and cyber professions, and it has more than 70 classes in session at any given time, over 40 blocks of instruction and three separate companies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion stands at attention before a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo Texas, June 12, 2026. The 344th MIB trains Soldiers in three different military occupational specialties, military intelligence, and cyber professions, and it has more than 70 classes in session at any given time, over 40 blocks of instruction and three separate companies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)
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"We prepare the Army's next generation of intelligence warfighters,” said Lovelace. “We are charged with teaching them how to pierce through the darkness, find what's hidden in the void and to illuminate the battlefield for our Army and our joint forces so that we can dominate and win."

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka (left), outgoing 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp (middle), 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan “Matt” Lovelace (right), incoming 344th MIB commander, render a salute during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Prior to assuming command, Lovelace served as an intelligence officer with Joint Task Force North and U.S. Central Command headquarters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka (left), outgoing 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, U.S. Army Col. Patrick Schorpp (middle), 111th Military Intelligence Brigade commander and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan “Matt” Lovelace (right), incoming 344th MIB commander, render a salute during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. Prior to assuming command, Lovelace served as an intelligence officer with Joint Task Force North and U.S. Central Command headquarters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)
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U.S. Army Maj. Elisabeth Hallgren, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion executive officer and commander of troops, leads battalion staff onto the field during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. The ceremony marked the transition of command from Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka to Lt. Col. Jonathan "Matt" Lovelace, who assumed command of the Silent Sentinels effective June 12, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Maj. Elisabeth Hallgren, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion executive officer and commander of troops, leads battalion staff onto the field during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. The ceremony marked the transition of command from Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka to Lt. Col. Jonathan "Matt" Lovelace, who assumed command of the Silent Sentinels effective June 12, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)
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U.S. Army Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka, outgoing commander, fires a 3-inch ordnance rifle after a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo Texas, June 12, 2026. Kuderka ended the ceremony and his time as commander with a “bang” by firing a replica of a cannon assigned to Fort Concho between 1875 and 1889. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Raymond Kuderka, outgoing commander, fires a 3-inch ordnance rifle after a change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo Texas, June 12, 2026. Kuderka ended the ceremony and his time as commander with a “bang” by firing a replica of a cannon assigned to Fort Concho between 1875 and 1889. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus)
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U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan "Matt" Lovelace, incoming 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, renders a salute to the battalion formation during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. During his command, Lovelace will lead the Silent Sentinels and ensure Soldiers graduating from Goodfellow Air Force Base are tactically and technically competent and ready to join the Joint Team.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)

344th MIB welcomes new commander

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan "Matt" Lovelace, incoming 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, renders a salute to the battalion formation during the change of command ceremony at the Fort Concho parade grounds, San Angelo, Texas, June 12, 2026. During his command, Lovelace will lead the Silent Sentinels and ensure Soldiers graduating from Goodfellow Air Force Base are tactically and technically competent and ready to join the Joint Team.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Salellas)
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