Small town roots to big time bomber, 5th OG Commander happy to be back at Minot AFB Published Sept. 20, 2012 By 2nd Lt. Jose Davis Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D -- Col. Todd M. Copeland, the new 5th Operations Group commander, knew he wanted to fly since he was seven. Now, Copeland is in charge of three B-52H Stratofortress squadrons at Minot Air Force Base, perpetually prepared to execute their missions of global strategic deterrence and unrelenting conventional firepower on demand. It's been a successful career leading up to his current assignment, all of which started for Copeland at Minot AFB - his first operational duty assignment 20 years ago. "Physically, Minot has changed a lot," said Copeland. "The Pride building has been updated considerably; windows in the Pride building, who would have thought that was possible?" Essentially, though, he sees no drastic difference in the mission since he was here last. "The mission and the base, that has not changed," said Copeland. "The job is the same - it is to provide strategic deterrence and conventional airpower when needed." Copeland was raised in Ballinger, Texas, a small town of around 4,300 people. Ranching and farming in the dry heat of central Texas were hobbies that Copeland enjoyed growing up. But his real passion rested not on the ground, but in the skies above. "As a kid I remember seeing F-4s out of Bergstrom AFB in Austin flying by Ballinger on their low level routes," recalled Copeland. "I knew I wanted to fly. It looked like more fun than hoeing cotton." After graduating from Ballinger High School in 1985, Copeland attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he pursued a degree in Aerospace Engineering. The University of Texas ranks as one of the top-10 best Aerospace Engineering programs in the nation. "I set my mind on going to UT I didn't even apply to other universities," Copeland said. However, the degree was a difficult one to pursue, Copeland recounts. Nevertheless, in the fall of 1989, Copeland graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. Upon his graduation, Copeland came to a crossroad. He had to decide whether he wanted to pursue a commission in the Marine Corps or the Air Force. His decision was quick. "The Air Force offered me better opportunities for what I wanted to do," Copeland recalls. "Flying is the Air Force's mission, and I wanted that to be the forefront of what I did." In August of 1991, Copeland completed undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. While there, he met his wife, Debbie, recently graduated from Texas Tech University and completing her student teaching courses. Copeland wanted to fly combat aircraft from the start. He chose a B-52 to Minot AFB out of flight school, thereafter going to Castle Air Force Base, Calif., for B-52 pilot training. When his training was complete, it was off to Minot AFB as his first operational duty assignment. In June 1992, Copeland arrived as a B-52 Co-Pilot. Today, 20 years later, Copeland is the 5th Operations Group commander for all B-52s stationed at Minot AFB. He's happy to be back. With clear goals in mind, Copeland has gone straight to work. "We will pass every inspection with 'excellent' or 'outstanding'; we will provide responsive, conventional combat firepower when called upon by the combatant commanders, and we will continue to deter those who seek to challenge the United States" said Copeland. "There are quite a few more upgrades we are going to make, so expect changes in the course of my two years as we continue to push the mission forward for the B-52."