Historic Transition: AFROTC Detachment 470 Welcomes New Leadership

The UNO Air Force ROTC Detachment 470 marked a significant occasion when it hosted its change of command ceremony, an event that honored a respected leader and set a milestone for representation and organizational realignment.

published: 2025/08/01
contact: Academic Affairs
email: academic.affairs@unomaha.edu

Five women, including military personnel, pose with a flag in front of a building’s steps.

Sarah Edwards, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Curriculum and Programs; Lt. Col. Jessica Stewart; Mary Kjeldgaard Staff Assistant for AFROTC; Lt. Col. Beth Janssen; and Melanie Bloom, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Two uniformed officers smile while passing a ceremonial flag, with a woman standing behind them.

Lt. Col. Stewart officially passes command to Lt. Col. Janssen during the AFROTC Change of Command ceremony.

Lt. Col. Stewart stands on building steps smiling and holding a ceremonial flag.

Lt. Col. Stewart poses with the ceremonial flag following the Change of Command ceremony.

During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Jessica Stewart, who had led Detachment 470 with distinction, passed the guidon, the traditional symbol of command and authority, to Lt. Col. Beth Janssen. The act signified the formal transfer of responsibility and leadership in accordance with a military tradition dating back to the 18th century.

The 2025 ceremony was historic because it represented the detachment’s first transition from one woman commander to another. Lt. Col. Stewart has been a visible and inspiring leader, serving as a role model to cadets and colleagues. Her tenure has emphasized professionalism, excellence, and a deep commitment to developing the next generation of Air Force officers.

Lt. Col. Janssen arrived at UNO after commanding the 28th Operational Weather Squadron, 1st Weather Group, at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where she led 94 Airmen providing 24/7 environmental intelligence for operations across U.S. Central Command and the Horn of Africa. Commissioned through ROTC at the University of Northern Colorado in 2007, she served in both operational and staff roles, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and multiple assignments at the Pentagon. Her varied experience, stretching from Barksdale Air Force Base to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, positions her well to guide Maverick cadets.

The ceremony also coincided with an organizational shift: Detachment 470 began reporting to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) rather than to Academic Affairs, aligning AFROTC more closely with the college’s broad academic mission and leadership-development initiatives.

The occasion celebrated Lt. Col. Janssen’s arrival, honored Lt. Col. Stewart’s impactful leadership, and reaffirmed the detachment’s commitment to cultivating character, integrity, and service in future Air Force and Space Force officers.