60th AMW commander returns

  • Published
  • By Col. Lyn Sherlock
  • 60th AMW commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It is great to be back at Travis! I just completed a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia as the deputy director of mobility forces for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander in U.S. Central Command. 

I worked in the Combined Air Operations Center, helping to direct planning and execution for theater tanker and airlift missions supporting operations and our forces throughout the area of responsibility. 

In that role, I had the pleasure to work with Airmen across our total force Air Force and the coalition, as well as men and women from our sister services, as we executed the air component’s portion of the Global War on Terrorism. 

And, I had the opportunity to meet with other deployed Travis Airmen. 

Chief Master Sgt. Dwayne Hopkins, formerly from the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force and is currently the command chief for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, set up visits with our Travis Airmen out on the base’s flightline and in their medical group, which is commanded by one of our own former squadron commanders Col. Alan Berg. 

Of course, many Travis Airmen worked right there in the Combined Air Operations Center in the Air Mobility Division, such as Staff Sgt. Samuel Coleman and Senior Airman Mac Hon from 60th Aerial Port Squadron, Capt. Allison Hahn from the 9th Air Refueling Squadron, and Col. Nick Lezama from the medical group. 

I also had the opportunity to visit with Airmen at other deployed locations, including Col. Keith Frede and Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Burns at a wing with our own KC-10s, as well as Airmen working at Balad and Baghdad, including C-5 maintainers, medical and port personnel. 

There was a common theme with everyone I met. They were professionals, representing Travis and our Air Force well, proud of their individual and group contributions to the Global War on Terrorism and knew they were making a difference. 

As I reflect on my deployment, there are two messages I bring back: Always be ready!
I had only two weeks notice for this deployment. I know there are some of you who have deployed with much less! 

It is important for all of us from airman to colonel to be ready to deploy, especially if you are in your Air Expeditionary Force cycle. That means ensure your required training and qualifications are always current, and ensure your family care plan is solid and always executable. Talk to your first sergeant or supervisor today if these aren’t up to speed! 

The other message is safety is the No. 1 mission, even in the combat zone. I received first-hand reports of Airmen who chose to cut corners, and the result was damage to aircraft or vehicles, with great potential for injury to an Airmen. 

The good news is I also witnessed Airmen using great Operational Risk Management, identifying when they could not safely accomplish a mission, or requesting a waiver to an Air Force Instruction once they, and their chain of command, mitigated the risk to an acceptable level. 

When you return from your deployment, do like I did. Take your leave — spend time with your family and friends. Talk about your experiences … be proud of the contributions you made to the GWOT … and understand you have been a part of history. 

Finally, I give my personal and heartfelt thanks to Col. Timothy Zadalis and his wife, Carol. They did an absolutely magnificent job leading the 60th AMW in my absence!