Colonel Derek "Maestro" OMalley is the commander for the 20th Fighter Wing. Press J to jump to the feed. John Q. Public - Spangdahlem Wing Commander given the | Facebook During this time it was equipped with the North American F-100D/F Super Sabre and Republic F-84 Thunderjet. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Log InSign Up User account menu 28 Shortly after publishing this piece, Colonel Derek 'Maestro' O'Malley gave us an exclusive and unprecedented in-depth interview in which we discuss the Gold Bon video, making mistakes, achieving redemption, and becoming a better leader because of it, as well as what goes into making a disciplinary decision for an Airman that has fallen into trouble. Units - Spangdahlem Air Base [9] Post-Desert Storm, the squadron's F-4Gs were transferred over to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron leaving the 480th as a sole F-16 unit. Retka returned to Kunsan in 2012 as a squadron commander. Operations group commanders typically serve two-year stints, Myers said, but Retka last year volunteered to extend his time in charge of the 52nd. Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, The impossible choice facing many of Americas military families, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. William McKibban, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, stands at parade rest in front of a formation for the 52nd FW Change of Command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Commenters on the air base's Facebook page posted a few images of streets and backyards full of brown water. He comes to Spangdahlem from Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he commanded the 31st Operations Group. July 2001 - January 2003, F-16 Flight Examiner, Flight Commander, 22d FS Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany 6. I checked the new tab and didn't see anything. Witnesses said Retkas chokehold was a full asphyxiation that caused the drunk pilot to lose consciousness and soil himself. Bilodeau assumed command in July 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Cope), Name/Rank: Lt. Col. Brian Scozzaro All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of U.S. Air Force (), In a 52nd Fighter Wing tradition, outgoing acting wing commander Col. Lars Hubert, right, passes a saber to incoming wing commander Col. Peter Bilodeau at the wing's assumption of command ceremony at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Friday, July 11, 2014. Bilodeau, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, flew F-16s at Spangdahlem for nearly three years in the late 1990s, when he served as an instructor pilot and assistant chief of weapons for the 23rd Fighter Squadron. Further, he supervises the support of the 31,000 local military retirees and 29 geographically separated units across nine states.". Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Here you'll find command name, phone numbers & websites. The culture within the USAF has changed to some degree since its inception, but it stands as an incredibly stark reminder that really talented and valuable people can make really dumb decisions. A female officer at Spangdahlem told investigators that in October 2018, Retka tried to sidestep her authority by saying he would solve a particular issue with another male officer, and said, We will talk about this as men later, over cigars and scotch.. Where and When you Joined the AF: I enlisted in Buffalo, New York, in 1996. As Saber Lead, Hauck now commands five groups, 23 squadrons and nine geographically separated units spread across five countries, with approximately 5,000 dedicated military and civilian personnel. 2022Recurrent Ventures. Mike is a photographer in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Col. Peter M. Bilodeau, the commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command on Tuesday after less than six months on the job because of loss of. Organization: 52 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Since then, the video been referenced in multiple military and aviation forums around the net. Kotnik from her position as the commander of the Viper Demo team yesterday, because I lost confidence in her ability to lead the team. This is an official snapshot of his career: 1996 Bachelor of Arts degree, Communications, Brigham Young University, Utah. Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command Dec. 30 due to a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership. After assuming command, Hauck told his airmen: I know we are going to face trial and tribulations, but we will continue to conquer them and be 100% mission ready.. (Past three) Previous assignments: Captain Sijan later died in a prison camp and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. We will develop, care and continue to be innovative as Airmen.. 52nd MSG changes command - Spangdahlem Air Base Commander, 52d Munitions Maintenance Group, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany Colonel THOMAS GRAHAM Commander, 52d Operations Group Colonel LESLIE F. HAUCK III Commander, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany Colonel STEVEN N. LAMB Commander, 52nd Mission Support Group Colonel WILLIAM H. McKIBBAN Spangdahlem AB to Keep F-16s, at Least for Now [26] On 9 November 2012, the 52nd OG set up a detachment (52nd OG Det 1) at ask Air Base in Poland. The U.S. Army said another nearly 1,300 people were missing as of Monday. Pentagon officials announced earlier this month that Spangdahlem would gain about 10 CV-22 Ospreys and 10 MC-130J aircraft, together with associated personnel from the 352nd Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. According to the report, Retka, the Kennedys and other staff and family from the 52nd attended a farewell dinner for the former vice wing commander at the Schloss Neiderweiss restaurant on May 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spangdahlem Fire Department light up Fire Prevention Week Commander That Fired First Female USAF Demo Team Leader Made This Crass [13], In late 1990, the 480th TFS deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield before flying SEAD missions between 17 January and 11 April 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm. June 2015 June 2017, Senior Military Advisor for Air Warfare Systems, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 15. What you do is truly inspiring, and its extremely important in this theater as we think of all of Europe and all of Africa and all of the challenges that are before us, Reed said. Why would you put your privates beside my body?, She told investigators that Retka came up to her a few minutes later, apologized, and asked if they were OK, to which she responded Yeah, Tony, were good. The report quoted Kennedy as saying Retka then replied, Okay, good, because you were [indistinguishable] target. Kennedy told Air Force Times that Retka said she was the non-intentional target.. OSI investigators also uncovered reports of more questionable activity by Retka over the years, particularly while he was deployed to Kunsan around 2004. His most recent biography has been removed from the Spangdahlem Air Base website. USAFE said Retka chose to retire several months earlier than expected. spangdahlem commander fired New commander takes charge of 52nd FW - Spangdahlem Air Base [7], In July 1963, the 480th TFS was reassigned to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it re-equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II in 1965. October 1996 May 1997, Executive Officer, 71st Operations Group, Vance AFB, Okla. 2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. (Melody Howley/U.S. Roberson announced the appointment of Col. Lars R. Hubert, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, as interim wing commander until a replacement can assume full-time duties. The squadron's F-16s flew 2,259 sorties with a total of 9,000 flying hours during its deployment to Iraq. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Before the investigation concluded, Retka decided to retire several months earlier than originally planned, Myers said. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. In these types of situations, I never forget that were dealing with real human beings, that I care deeply about, and that we are charged to take care of. The commander of the 52d Fighter Wing is Colonel David J. Julazadeh. The 52nd FW commander oversees all five of the wings groups, who directly support the mission to provide strategic, theater and contract commercial air mobility capability for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. All Rights Reserved. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, he previously worked for newspapers in New Jersey, North Carolina and Maryland. But administrative actions can include letters of reprimand, admonishment or counseling. This was not an easy decision to make, but I believe it is in the best interest of the men and women of the 52nd Fighter Wing, Roberson said. Hauck comes from Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he served as the commander of the 31st Operations Group. Rating: command pilot Flight hours: more than 2,100, including 146 combat hours Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-38, F-15E, F/A-18F, F-35A, and F-16, Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. Its really devastating, said Malu Dreyer, governor of Rhineland-Pfalz state, which includes Spangdahlem. The unit is based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Wing commander relieved of post in Germany - airforcetimes.com He comes to Spangdahlem from Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he commanded the 31st Operations Group. This will be a difficult time for Capt. cancer woman and virgo man compatibility 2021 . He is headed to. Col. Lars R. Hubert, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, has been appointed as interim wing commander until a replacement is named. Jordana Kennedy said having to be around Retka and his wife was crushing and super-stressful. She began to skip group events with spouses to avoid running into the Retkas, and said she recently had a panic attack when she thought they might show up. Spangdahlem Wing commander relieved of command : AirForce (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spangdahlem Wing commander relieved of command : AirForce 28 votes, 23 comments. You can and should read that entire special feature linked here. [14], On 1 April 1994, the squadron was inactivated again as part of the post-Cold War force reductions,[4] being replaced by the 22nd Fighter Squadron who had relocated to Spangdahlem from Bitburg Air Base on the same day. from around the world. (Senior Airman Arielle Vasquez/Air Force) An inspector general report released Thursday found Brig. Exactly the way they like it. We have never seen such a disaster. Melody W. Howley). (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes). It thrust me forward.. [4], The 480th TFS was reactivated on 15 November 1976 as part of the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany, flying the F-4D Phantom II. About 30 . Even as I speak, another female pilot from the 20th Fighter Wing is flying combat missions in the Middle East. My primary focus remains on motivational mission accomplishment, compassionate care of airmen and their families, and the drive to constantly improve and innovate.. June 2017 June 2018, Vice Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah. . At the time, Lt. Col. Kennedy was director of staff for the 52nd Fighter Wing. Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, will keep its fighter mission after the Pentagon's Global Posture Review permanently reversed a Trump administration decision to shift the base's F-16 s to Italy and to cancel plans to move tankers and special operations forces there. Quoting the 3AF/CC "My primary focus remains on motivational mission accomplishment, compassionate care of Airmen and their families, and the drive to constantly improve and innovate. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Bilodeau was relieved of command and Hubert, the wing vice commander, was again named interim commander. Community for current, future, and past members of the US Air Force. Col. Peter M. Bilodeau was removed by Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of 3rd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Cope), U.S. Air Force Col. Timothy Trimmell, 52nd Maintenance Group commander, left, Lt. Col. Brian Scozzaro, incoming 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, middle, and Lt. Col. John Szczepanski, outgoing 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, right, sing the Air Force song at the conclusion of the 52nd AMXS Change of Command Ceremony at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, July 26, 2019. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets [30], On 30 May 2014, the 480th FS deployed in support of 52nd OG Det 1 at ask for two weeks. Wing Commander Col. David Epperson took administrative action against Retka after the Office of Special Investigations completed its investigation last September, Gabe Myers, a spokesman for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, said Tuesday. Epperson praised the wing, who look out for each other in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. As the wings director of staff, Lt. Col. Kennedy had been working directly for former wing Commander Col. Jason Bailey. 16. In Colonel O'Malley's case, this little sojourn into blue humor movie making didn't seem to hold him back much. Waters, last seasons Viper Demo pilot has resumed command, so the team is in great hands, and the show will go on. October 2009 July 2011, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla. 11. Then-Lt. Col. Anthony Retka, who was then commander of the 35th Fighter Squadron, boards an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Max Thunder exercise at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea in 2012. Shortly after the Kennedys arrived and began chatting with other guests in the center aisle of the dining room, the report said, Retka walked up to the group and pinched or touched a male colonels rear end. Bilodeau was the vice commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Korea before coming to Spangdahlem, according to the Kunsan Air Base installation page. Spangdahlem is home of the 52nd Fighter Wing, which maintains, deploys and employs Lockheed Martin Block 50 F-16CM/DM. While based in France, the 480th TFS underwent deployments to Wheelus Air Base in Libya as well as participating in USAFE exercises. The commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command Tuesday over a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership. The 52nd Fighter Wing maintains and employs F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and $6 billion of United States Protection Level one assets in support of NATO and national defense directives. The wing maintains and employs F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft in support of NATO and national defense directives. - 5 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Operations Officer at Minot AFB, - 5 Maintenance Squadron Commander at Minot AFB, - 379 Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Commander at Al Udeid AB. [19] In March 2011, the Warhawks deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn in order to create a no-fly zone over Libya. May 1997 September 1998, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla. 3. [4] It was inactivated on 1 May 1944 while based at Lake Charles Army Air Field. [14][15], In April 2010, the 52nd Fighter Wing's strength was reduced by one third when 20 F-16CJs and one F-16D were transferred to the 179th Fighter Squadron of the Air National Guard. EC commander tours Ramstein, Spangdahlem Spangdahlem refuels BTF bombers with VIPER kit for first time [13], In 1993, the Warhawks became the USAF's first squadron to be equipped with the Block 50 F-16s, and was again tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). The rest are tools to accomplish that. The wing includes about 5,000 military and civilian personnel, spread across nine sites in five countries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. [9], On 20 October 1971, the 480th TFS flew its last combat mission, which was also the last combat sortie for 12th TFW. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Randall Reed, Third Air Force commander (left), passes the guidon to Col. Leslie Hauck, 52nd Fighter Wing incoming commander July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Spangdahlem Flight Commander Leadership Course inspires courageous - AF Finally the Spangdahlem Command Post is accessible 24/7 and can be reached at DSN: 314-452-6141 or Comm: 011-49-6565-61-6141. September 1998 August 1999, student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz. 4. USAF's First Female F-16 Demo Pilot Relieved of Command After Only Two You haven't been stationed in grand forks or Minot have you? If you were looking for passive leadership, then you chose the wrong person, Bilodeau said at the time. For example, the 52nd has increased rotational missions in Poland as part of EUCOMs push to bolster the military presence in the region. It's worth noting that the female pilot in the videois not Zoe Kotnik. The wing is comprised of more than 5,500 military and civilian personnel. [33], On 7 April 2016, the 480th EFS deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve,[34] returning to Spangdahlem on 12 October. Biographies - Spangdahlem Air Base The release did not say when a full-time commander will be selected. July 2004 August 2005, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea. Col. Steven Lamb, 52nd Mission Support Group commander, gives his first remarks during the 52nd MSG change of command ceremony, July 26, 2022, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Col. Anthony Retka, who retired earlier this month, was accused of abusive sexual contact against Jordana Kennedy, the wife of Lt. Col. Patrick Kennedy, at an off-base going away party in May 2019. But on July 3, exactly two months after the incident at the dinner, Kennedy took command of the 480th Fighter Squadron. Stars and Stripes reporter Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this report. [I]f you want to understand my leadership style, it would be if its based on increasing combat capability, then youre doing the right thing and keep doing it. If not, lets talk and lets work on trying to get better while taking care of our airmen and families, he added. She spoke with Air Force Times Jan. 9 and agreed to be identified by name. Born in Peoria, Ill., he graduated from DODEAs now-defunct Frankfurt American High School. By the time Retka returned to Spangdahlem as a group commander, he was viewed by some as a bully who had a tendency to mock, disparage or undermine his subordinates. Several witnesses told OSI the event was somewhat crowded, but relatively easy to navigate without bumping into other people. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hauck, a pilot with over 2,400 hours flying in F-16s, including 285 combat hours in Operation Enduring Freedom, is a 1998 graduate of the Air Force Academy. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing outgoing commander (center), passes the 52nd FW guidon to U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Randall Reed, Third Air Force commander (left), as he relinquishes command during the 52nd Fighter Wing Change of Command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help do away with the remnants of a culture that tolerated such behavior by leaders. Others will find it unbecoming of the positions and responsibilities of some of the people most prominently featured in it. In a written statement to OSI, Retka denied he inappropriately touched Kennedy and that any contact was incidental and not done with the intent to abuse, humiliate or degrade her or for his own gratification. 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Change of Command > Spangdahlem Air 0 0 Less than a minute. Spangdahlem Air Base - Home - Facebook O'Malley, a highly accomplished fighter pilot, also oversees the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team that calls the base home, the same unit that Kotnik was relieved from. Prior to leaving your installation make sure you have emergency phone numbers with you such as the First Sergeant/Commander Support Staff at both your losing and gaining installations. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. Spangdahlem wing commander relieved of duty | Stars and Stripes
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