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New 552nd ACW vice commander impressed

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. Brian Humphrey has been at Tinker and the 552nd Air Control Wing just a short time, but said he is already impressed by what he has seen. Over the course of his tenure, the wing vice commander said he aims to help America's Wing continue providing world-class command and control to combatant commanders.

"The 552nd ACW sets the bar in the C2 world," Colonel Humphrey said. "I can bring dedication, patience, hard work and a fresh perspective. A willingness to continually ask 'why' sometimes challenges the status quo and prevents complacency. One of our duties is to always be on the lookout for ways to be more effective and efficient."

Colonel Humphrey arrived at Tinker from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he was a student at Air War College. Yet, the Florida native has tons of knowledge from working in communities similar to that of America's Wing and said his past experiences will benefit both him and the wing.

Within his 22-year career, the colonel, who has more than 2,600 flying hours as a pilot, has commanded a flying squadron and oversaw Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance special programs. Additionally, he has spent the majority of his career at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and understands the importance of a tight-knit community with an enormous mission and responsibility.

"I spent 13 years in Omaha and Omaha is not terribly different than Oklahoma City," Colonel Humphrey said. "It has the same kind of people - they're very supportive of the military and installation, and very generous with their time. So to come back to an environment like that, I'm very excited."

And, he's up for the job, a most important role.

"America has invested heavily in ensuring we have the tools and training to fight and win our nation's wars," Colonel Humphrey said. "No other air force is even close. Every day, we have to reaffirm the trust of our nation by striking fear in the hearts of any potential adversary."