EC celebrates ASAM class of 2010

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Sixteen majors graduated in front of family and friends from the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Advanced Study of Air Mobility program in the Grace Peterson Hall here June 18.

The ceremony was the culmination of a 13-month long course for officers who are instrumental in advancing the Air Force's core competency of Rapid Global Mobility, according to officials. The Air Force Institute of Technology accredited program culminates in a Master of Science in logistics.

"ASAM is the capstone course of the Expeditionary Center; it is the crown jewel of our leadership education programs," said Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, Expeditionary Center commander in his remarks at the ceremony. "The Air Force will benefit so much from what these graduates will do for us in the future."

Though one of the Air Force's newest intermediate developmental education programs, ASAM features a robust curriculum consisting of the AFIT master's degree, selective U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center core mobility courses, and global site visits to the Department of Defense, allied, and joint commands, as well as corporate entities relevant to mobility, according to officials.

"Through our alignment with flag officer research sponsors, ASAM has shaped the thinking on literally every aspect of the mobility arena, from organization and training to current operations," said Mr. Rudy Becker, Director of the U.S. Air Force Mobility Operations School and head of the Center's ASAM program.

Majors Ian Fairchild and Brandon Casey were recognized as AFIT Distinguished Graduates and joined Maj. Phil Morrison as award recipients for the work published in their graduate research papers. The awards were among many bestowed upon the three during the ceremony.

Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander from Baghdad, Iraq, was the guest speaker. General Hanson is also the director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air Force.

During his remarks, he encouraged the graduates to be strong leaders and relayed some of his experiences towards helping the government of Iraq train and organize that nation's air force.

The graduates and their next assignments are:

- George Buch, Jr., 15th Aircraft Maintenance Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
- Rebeccah Carter, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
- Brandon Casey, Lemay Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- Michael Donaghy, 19th Operations Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
- Ian Fairchild, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
- Myers Gray, 612th Air Operations Center, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
- Vincent Jacobs, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- Jason Mills, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- Craig Moe, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C..
- Phil Morrison, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- Christopher Omdal, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- Travis Sjostedt, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- Timothy Stuart, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- Brian Surdyk, Combined Air Operations Center, Uedem, Germany
- Eric Weber, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- Jason Williams, 618th Tactical Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill.