552 ACW welcomes new vice commander

  • Published
  • By 1Lt Kinder Blacke
  • 552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs
The 552nd Air Control Wing will kick off May 2009 with a new face amidst wing leadership. Col. Scott Forest will take the place of Col. Joseph Rossacci, as the vice commander of the 552 ACW.

Colonel Forest comes to the wing from the Pentagon, Washington, DC., where he served as the chief of the Operational Training Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. 

"I feel privileged and honored to serve in America's Wing as a vice commander," Colonel Forest said. 

This is not his first assignment with the wing. As a captain, Colonel Forest served as a flight commander for the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron and then as the Chief of Readiness and Inspections for the 552 ACW Inspector General.

After this prior experience, Colonel Forest understands the significance of the role he is accepting.

"I am excited and humbled to shoulder the responsibilities that go with (being the vice commander), because having served in the wing as Captain Forest, I know that the issues that I will be involved with can affect all the Airmen in the wing. My predecessor, Colonel Rossacci, has set a high standard for the position, and I would do well to carry the torch as well as he has," Colonel Forest said.

Colonel Forest is looking forward to supporting a leader like Col. Pat Hoffman, commander, 552 ACW, and to serving the country at the wing level again. "The best part about it is the people," he said. "Particularly in this wing, the people have always been top notch and great teammates. (...) No group is better; no group has to be."

With such a demanding mission to execute, Colonel Forest comes with clear expectations.

"My expectations are the same as Colonel Hoffman's: that we do our best every day to fly, fight, and win, anywhere, anytime... and that we take care of each other," he said.

And he does not exclude himself from that challenge. "The Airmen can and should expect the same from me. I promise to give my best every day," he said.

Thankfully, Colonel Forest will have his spouse and four-year-old daughter here to support him in this endeavor.

His wife, Lt. Col. Teresa "Teri" Forest, is accepting an assignment here at the end of July as the deputy commander for the 72nd Mission Support Group.

The Forests are excited to be back at Tinker again and are anxious to re-unite with some and get to know many more of the "great Americans" serving here.

Colonel Forest concludes with this final thought: "We would like to say thanks for all you do every day to keep our blessed country a safe place for our four-year-old daughter, Kyla... thank you, sincerely," Colonel Forest said. "Fight hard and fly safe!"