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Former Goodfellow student takes charge of wing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anne Gathua
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Goodfellow Air Force Base welcomed a former student as its new commander during a change of command ceremony July 22, officiated by Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers, 2nd Air Force commander.

Col. Thomas W. Geary, former Goodfellow intelligence student, took the reins as the 17th Training Wing commander, replacing Col. Richard Ayres, who will serve as the Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (A2), Barksdale Air Force Base; Shreveport, La. Colonel Ayres had commanded Team Goodfellow since March 2007.

"My advice to Colonel Geary is, take care of your Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Soldiers and they will take care of you," General Flowers said. 

Before taking charge of Goodfellow, Colonel Geary commanded the 692nd Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Prior to his group command, he was the commander of the 608th Air Intelligence Squadron and Director of Intelligence for 8th Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Throughout his 21-year career, Colonel Geary served in leadership roles in the Defense Intelligence Agency, Air Combat Command, Space Command and the United States Pacific Command.

"It is a privilege to take such a great command," said Colonel Geary. "We have a great mission carried out by a great team and a great community of supporters like no other." 

Colonel Geary commissioned in 1988 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. He served in the missile operations career field for nearly five years as a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile crew commander and instructor before transitioning to the intelligence career field. He completed Intelligence Training as a student with the 315th Training Squadron here from September 1993 to June 1994. 

"To the men and women of Team Goodfellow, everyday is an opportunity for us to work as a team doing great things for our nation," Colonel Geary said. "Success awaits us as we continue taking on the opportunities ahead. You have my loyalty, my trust and my dedication. You deserve the best. I look forward to serving with you."