JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Maj. James Thomas took command of the 616th Air Communication Squadron from Lt. Col. Sarah Mashburn during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on July 12.
Thomas now leads the 616th ACOMS team charged with defending, operating, and modernizing a $54 million network, maturing information warfare and enabling cyber and intelligence operations worldwide.
“I'm looking forward to working with the entire 616th ACOMS team, side-by side, shoulder-to shoulder,” Thomas said. “As we know we live in a changing world and as you already heard, a changing Air Force, but I know we're going to go forward and tackle any challenge that comes our way.”
Col. Jonathan Boling, 616th Operations Center commander, presided over the ceremony and offered parting remarks.
“We've had complex support requirements along with constant organizational change and Sarah stepped up to the helm; she's very people focused, quality of life focused, and has made multiple improvements to define the unit’s identity, build morale, and push the whole unit upwards and onwards,” Boling said.
Boling also commented on the inbound commander. “Thomas is the right Airman and leader to pick up the load from here,” he said. “He’s been recognized for superior performance and top stratification accolades and he's looking at taking it all in stride and ready to assume command of the 616th ACOMS with energy.
The 616th ACOMS "Fire Birds" team provides dedicated information technology support to the 616th Operations Center, the Air Force’s only information warfare focused operation center.
“We're going to continue supporting the operation center and the great activities the team does every day,” Thomas said. “We're a team; it's not me as the commander and the rest of you. We're a team together and I expect you to hold me accountable with that every step of the way.”
Thomas joins the 616th ACOMS after previously working as the International Program Manager, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Before relinquishing command, Mashburn received the Meritorious Service Medal.
“I have to say thank you to each and every one of the Firebirds, you all are what have made this work,” Mashburn said. “I've learned and I've grown so much from this, thanks to all of you. The reason we’ve achieve what we have is from connections we’ve made with each other and the culture that we have.”
Boling said the 16th Air Force will still benefit from Mashburn’s expertise and decision-making ability as she is, “handpicked to be the 16th Air Force three-star commander’s executive officer.”
He closed his remarks with an optimistic outlook. “As the 616th Operation Center is always on the hunt, always on the prowl, the Fire Birds constantly bring the heat so off we go,” said Boling.
The 616th ACOMS team increases combat effectiveness by supporting command, control, communications, and computer network infrastructure, supporting more than 500 end users, 1500 end user devises, and four data centers to provide and ensure access to 616th Operation Center mission systems.