Building the future at Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE,Texas --  That's what Col. Richard Ayres, 17th Training Wing commander, said the men and women of Goodfellow Air Force Base have been doing since the he took command March 9, 2007.

Looking back over his first year in charge of Team Goodfellow, he recalled some of the many improvements that have taken place while he has been here.

"Most important have been the improvements to the training mission, especially the intelligence training," Col. Ayres said. "We keep making it better and better, and it shows."

"Of course, we've built a lot of infrastructure as well, such as the bowling alley improvements, the pool and the security barriers," he added, "and that will continue to improve." Other infrastructure improvements include additions to the Mathis Fitness Center and the new base chapel, as well as the hope for improvements to the base education center and a 50,000-square-foot addition to the intelligence school.

"But the transformation of our intelligence training is the most important," Col. Ayres said. "We're beginning the process, at the direction of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, and of Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, of recreating the entire intelligence training approach," the commander, himself an intelligence officer, said.

"It's a total transformation of intelligence as a career field," he added with excitement. "That begins with training, and we're right at the heart of it at Goodfellow," Col. Ayres said. "It's a total transformation to reflect the way we do business in the 21st Century."

That transformation, and the improvements to the base infrastructure, are helping Goodfellow's mission grow, he continued. One indicator is the upcoming formal standing-up of the Texas Air National Guard's 217th Training Squadron this year.

"We've got huge numbers of guardsmen coming in as the Air National Guard units transform to meet the intelligence mission," the commander added.

On a more personal note, Col. Ayres said his favorite moment during his first year here was the Pass in Review ceremony last fall, when Goodfellow honored the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as the heroes onboard Flight 93.

That Pass in Review parade also honored retired Col. Charles Powell, a former 17 TRW commander, and his wife JoAnne, who have both been longtime community supporters of Goodfellow.

In closing, Col. Ayres offered the same advice he said he gives to our newest Airmen each week.

"Don't lose focus," he said. "Keep asking yourself, why are you here? What is your purpose here? At the end of the day," he added, "our mission is creating the future of Air Force and multi-service firefighters, special instruments and intelligence professionals."

"Despite distractions, deployments and transformation, don't lose your focus," Col. Ayres said. "We are building the future."