Col. Rearick joins Team Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As summer approaches, Goodfellow Air Force Base is in a transition period. Referred to as "PCS season," this time sees familiar faces leaving and new Airmen arriving from bases all over the world.

As part of our summer transition, Team Goodfellow welcomed Col. David Rearick, 17th Training Wing vice commander, to our base in West Texas.

"I never really thought I'd be coming back to West Texas," Col. Rearick said. "I'm excited to be in San Angelo. Everyone here is extremely friendly and helpful." The colonel said his first weekend after coming to Goodfellow was the Armed Forces Day Goodfellow Appreciation Picnic. "I've never been at a base with local community support like that displayed by the folks of San Angelo and the surrounding communities," he said.

Colonel Rearick is a graduate of the University of Texas who received his commission through Officer Training School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in mathematics and computer science as well as a Master of Arts degree in information resource management.

Born in Pennsylvania, which he still considers his home, Col. Rearick spent 15 years of his life in West Texas and jokingly considers himself a dual citizen. He comes to Goodfellow from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., where he was the Director of Logistics and Systems at the Air Force Technical Applications Center.

Because of his time at AFTAC, the colonel said he feels a particular kinship with the Technical Applications / Applied Geophysics career field, which Goodfellow trains in its Special Instruments Training courses, he added that he is looking forward to seeing the best firefighters and intelligence Airmen the Air Force has to offer as well.

"It doesn't matter who we are training, we are doing our best with each Air Force Specialty Code," Col. Rearick said. "We're graduating warriors ready to do the mission," he added; warriors who are also steeped in the Air Force's heritage and tradition.

He spoke of the professional conduct and camaraderie he saw during the recent 17th Training Group Drill Competition as a positive example of Airmen being not just firefighter, intelligence and SPINSTRA professionals, but Airmen.

"It's great to come to a base where all know and understand customs and courtesies," he said. "It's fun to watch and sets a great example for our Airmen, including me."

Those Airmen, Col. Rearick said, are the primary reason he is excited to be at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

"It's so refreshing being able to talk to student Airmen," he said. "They're extremely bright... the best sons and daughters America has to offer; and we get them. They chose to serve their country."

That mission, Col. Rearick said, will make this assignment the most rewarding job in his career.

"This is the perfect base for me, the perfect job for me," the vice commander said. "We are developing the future of the Air Force, and I am thrilled to be a part of that."