Slocum Takes Command at Selfridge
 |
| Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum holds the flag of the
127th Wing as he officially assumes command of the wing during a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 2, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Behind Slocum are Brig. Gen. Leonard W. Isabelle, Jr., commander of the Michigan Air National Guard; Col. Philip R. Sheridan, outgoing 127th Wing commander; and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Dobson, command chief master sergeant of the 127th Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert Hanet) |
More than 250 of the
Airmen in his new command did not attend the ceremony in
which Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum was officially named the new commander of the
127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. One contingent of the
Michigan Air National Guardsmen is in Europe, another is at an island air base
in the Pacific Ocean.
While Slocum, who takes the helm at Selfridge after serving for several years
at National Guard Bureau headquarters in Maryland, said he's certainly looking
forward to getting to know and working alongside all of the roughly 1,700
Citizen-Airmen in his command, the absence of those two groups was "exactly
how it should be."
"The mission always trumps ceremony," Slocum said. "These Michigan Airmen are
doing exactly what the nation is requesting and, quite frankly, doing exactly
what the nation needs in this modern era: putting service before self. My job
is to empower, train, and motivate our Airmen to continue to be spectacularly
successful."
Slocum officially assumed command of the 127th Wing during a Nov. 2 ceremony
at Selfridge. Slocum relieved Col. Philip R. Sheridan as the wing commander.
Sheridan will continue to serve in the 127th Wing as the wing's vice
commander, a position he previously held.
"I would like to thank Col. Sheridan for his leadership and service," Slocum
said. "The 127th has a remarkable track record of success. I'm excited to
have the opportunity to lead the Wing into a new phase of enduring
contributions to our country and to the State of Michigan."
Slocum had been serving as the Inspector General of the U.S. Air National
Guard when he was selected as the 127th Wing's next commander. For four years,
he served as the ANG's director of safety, where he led the development of
several notable programs, including a suicide prevention and resiliency
initiative known as the "Wingman Project;" a mid-air aircraft collision
avoidance program that was adopted across the Dept. of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration; and authored the ANG's indigenous human factors for
maintenance training curriculum. In 2013, the general was inducted into the
U.S. Air Force Safety Hall of Fame. Slocum is a command pilot who initially
joined the Air Force in 1984, with most of his flight time initially in the
F-4 Phantom and, since the early 1990s, in the F-16 Falcon. In 1992, he joined
the Arizona Air National Guard and served with the 162nd Fighter Wing in
Tucson, Ariz., until joining the ANG headquarters element in 2009.
Brig. Gen. Leonard W. Isabelle, Jr., commander, Michigan Air National Guard,
gave accolades to Sheridan. The outgoing commander was awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal during the ceremony.
Sheridan had served as wing commander since early 2014. After service in the
U.S. Marine Corps and the Kansas Air National Guard as a pilot, Sheridan has
served as a member of the Michigan Air National Guard since 1996.
"What Brig. Gen. Slocum will quickly discover, and in fact, probably already
has, is that he is now leading and serving alongside some of our nation's most
dedicated patriots," said Sheridan. "Our Michigan Airmen take a back seat to
no one when it comes to not only serving our nation, but to doing so in a
cost-efficient manner."
The absence of so many Airmen on deployment during Slocum's change of command
ceremony is a routine fact of life for the 127th Wing. During Fiscal Year
2014, which ended Sept. 30, 2014, the wing reported that 570 Citizen-Airmen
deployed from the base to operations and exercises in more than two dozen
countries on four different continents.
In addition to serving as the 127th Wing commander, Slocum also serves as the
commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which is the duty station for
some 4,500 total personnel, including about 3,000 members of various National
Guard and Reserve commands from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Coast
Guard and U.S. Customs & Border Protection units also have significant
presences at the base. Combined, the total economic impact of payroll and
operations at Selfridge is estimated to be well above $825 million annually.
"Selfridge has a rich history and is one of today's preeminent installations
in the United States," Slocum said. "The many agencies and organizations that
make up Team Selfridge make us a benchmark for inter-governmental
collaboration, cooperation, and efficiency. The men and women of the 127th
Wing represent the best of our nation, and of our community. When you combine
all of these strengths, I have no doubt that Selfridge and the 127th have a
bright future serving Michigan and our nation."
Slocum takes command at Selfridge after several years of some question and
concern about what the future may hold for the Air National Guard at the base
and, as a result, of the base itself. The 127th Wing flies two types of
aircraft at Selfridge: The KC-135 Stratotanker and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
The A-10s, an air-to-ground attack fighter known popularly as the "Warthog,"
have been the subject of considerable debate at the highest levels of Air
Force and Congressional leadership, with a number of proposals being put
forward in recent years to mothball the A-10 fleet. Such a move likely would
have a significant impact on job totals at Selfridge.
The A-10s at Selfridge are flown by the "Red Devils" of the 107th Fighter
Squadron, a unit which first fought in World War I and has been a part of the
Michigan Air National Guard since 1926. Selfridge was officially designated as
a "pursuit" base - the pre-World War II title for fighter aircraft - in 1922
and has had fighter type aircraft assigned to the base since its inception in
1917.
"While we have a focused attention on working to preserve the jobs of our
Michigan Airmen who fly, maintain and support the A-10 - you don't reward
someone for a century of a job well done by taking away their livelihood -
Brig. Gen. Isabelle and I understand that all of our Airmen at Selfridge, the
men and women working on tankers and in the dining facility, our security
people, medical, all of them, they bring skill and talent to the table,"
Slocum said. "They are eager to take on new missions, new challenges. They
have more than earned the right to be rewarded with new opportunities, right
here at Selfridge."
About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10
Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air
Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command
by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The
127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks
its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.
TSgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs
(586) 239-5576
Web site: www.127wg.ang.af.mil
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/127thWing To learn more about the
history of the 127th Wing & Selfridge Air National Guard Base:
http://www.127wg.ang.af.mil/resources/history&heritage.asp
Editors: You can download B-roll and high-resolution photos of 127th Wing
activities here: http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/127WPA
which Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum was officially named the new commander of the
127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. One contingent of the
Michigan Air National Guardsmen is in Europe, another is at an island air base
in the Pacific Ocean.
While Slocum, who takes the helm at Selfridge after serving for several years
at National Guard Bureau headquarters in Maryland, said he's certainly looking
forward to getting to know and working alongside all of the roughly 1,700
Citizen-Airmen in his command, the absence of those two groups was "exactly
how it should be."
"The mission always trumps ceremony," Slocum said. "These Michigan Airmen are
doing exactly what the nation is requesting and, quite frankly, doing exactly
what the nation needs in this modern era: putting service before self. My job
is to empower, train, and motivate our Airmen to continue to be spectacularly
successful."
Slocum officially assumed command of the 127th Wing during a Nov. 2 ceremony
at Selfridge. Slocum relieved Col. Philip R. Sheridan as the wing commander.
Sheridan will continue to serve in the 127th Wing as the wing's vice
commander, a position he previously held.
"I would like to thank Col. Sheridan for his leadership and service," Slocum
said. "The 127th has a remarkable track record of success. I'm excited to
have the opportunity to lead the Wing into a new phase of enduring
contributions to our country and to the State of Michigan."
Slocum had been serving as the Inspector General of the U.S. Air National
Guard when he was selected as the 127th Wing's next commander. For four years,
he served as the ANG's director of safety, where he led the development of
several notable programs, including a suicide prevention and resiliency
initiative known as the "Wingman Project;" a mid-air aircraft collision
avoidance program that was adopted across the Dept. of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration; and authored the ANG's indigenous human factors for
maintenance training curriculum. In 2013, the general was inducted into the
U.S. Air Force Safety Hall of Fame. Slocum is a command pilot who initially
joined the Air Force in 1984, with most of his flight time initially in the
F-4 Phantom and, since the early 1990s, in the F-16 Falcon. In 1992, he joined
the Arizona Air National Guard and served with the 162nd Fighter Wing in
Tucson, Ariz., until joining the ANG headquarters element in 2009.
Brig. Gen. Leonard W. Isabelle, Jr., commander, Michigan Air National Guard,
gave accolades to Sheridan. The outgoing commander was awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal during the ceremony.
Sheridan had served as wing commander since early 2014. After service in the
U.S. Marine Corps and the Kansas Air National Guard as a pilot, Sheridan has
served as a member of the Michigan Air National Guard since 1996.
"What Brig. Gen. Slocum will quickly discover, and in fact, probably already
has, is that he is now leading and serving alongside some of our nation's most
dedicated patriots," said Sheridan. "Our Michigan Airmen take a back seat to
no one when it comes to not only serving our nation, but to doing so in a
cost-efficient manner."
The absence of so many Airmen on deployment during Slocum's change of command
ceremony is a routine fact of life for the 127th Wing. During Fiscal Year
2014, which ended Sept. 30, 2014, the wing reported that 570 Citizen-Airmen
deployed from the base to operations and exercises in more than two dozen
countries on four different continents.
In addition to serving as the 127th Wing commander, Slocum also serves as the
commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which is the duty station for
some 4,500 total personnel, including about 3,000 members of various National
Guard and Reserve commands from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Coast
Guard and U.S. Customs & Border Protection units also have significant
presences at the base. Combined, the total economic impact of payroll and
operations at Selfridge is estimated to be well above $825 million annually.
"Selfridge has a rich history and is one of today's preeminent installations
in the United States," Slocum said. "The many agencies and organizations that
make up Team Selfridge make us a benchmark for inter-governmental
collaboration, cooperation, and efficiency. The men and women of the 127th
Wing represent the best of our nation, and of our community. When you combine
all of these strengths, I have no doubt that Selfridge and the 127th have a
bright future serving Michigan and our nation."
Slocum takes command at Selfridge after several years of some question and
concern about what the future may hold for the Air National Guard at the base
and, as a result, of the base itself. The 127th Wing flies two types of
aircraft at Selfridge: The KC-135 Stratotanker and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
The A-10s, an air-to-ground attack fighter known popularly as the "Warthog,"
have been the subject of considerable debate at the highest levels of Air
Force and Congressional leadership, with a number of proposals being put
forward in recent years to mothball the A-10 fleet. Such a move likely would
have a significant impact on job totals at Selfridge.
The A-10s at Selfridge are flown by the "Red Devils" of the 107th Fighter
Squadron, a unit which first fought in World War I and has been a part of the
Michigan Air National Guard since 1926. Selfridge was officially designated as
a "pursuit" base - the pre-World War II title for fighter aircraft - in 1922
and has had fighter type aircraft assigned to the base since its inception in
1917.
"While we have a focused attention on working to preserve the jobs of our
Michigan Airmen who fly, maintain and support the A-10 - you don't reward
someone for a century of a job well done by taking away their livelihood -
Brig. Gen. Isabelle and I understand that all of our Airmen at Selfridge, the
men and women working on tankers and in the dining facility, our security
people, medical, all of them, they bring skill and talent to the table,"
Slocum said. "They are eager to take on new missions, new challenges. They
have more than earned the right to be rewarded with new opportunities, right
here at Selfridge."
About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10
Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air
Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command
by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The
127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks
its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.
TSgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs
(586) 239-5576
Web site: www.127wg.ang.af.mil
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/127thWing To learn more about the
history of the 127th Wing & Selfridge Air National Guard Base:
http://www.127wg.ang.af.mil/resources/history&heritage.asp
Editors: You can download B-roll and high-resolution photos of 127th Wing
activities here: http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/127WPA
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