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New commander looks toward future of 104th Fighter Wing

Col Robert Brooks Jr. receives the unit guide-on from Maj. Gen. Mike Akey, Massachusetts Air National Guard Commander, signifying accepting command of the 104th Fighter Wing. Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Mark Fortin
By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD The new wing commander at Barnes Air National Guard Base has his sights set on the future.

Since taking command on Aug. 23, Col. Robert Brooks Jr., former commander of the 159 Operations Group of the Louisiana Air National Guard, has set basic goals for the wing and stressed combat readiness prior to their new mission in 2010.

The new Air Sovereignty Alert Mission requires that Barnes be the base of operations for the F-15, an air superiority aircraft, and the primary base for the North American Air Defense System.

"The goals are simple be safe, be smart and work hard toward becoming mission ready [and] then work toward being a premier F-15 unit in the country," Brooks said.

He said he intends on achieving his goals and mission ready status by "being consistent with our past performances."

"I will rely on the expertise in the wing and will work to take care of the members, so they in turn can take care of the mission," Brooks added.

He noted that thus far he has been pleased with the caliber of work at Barnes. "I am impressed by the dedication of the wing members," Brooks said. "The 104th has a great reputation within the U.S. Air Force and after you meet the people, you'll know why."

Brooks has over 20 years of military experience and over 3,100 hours of flight time in the F-15 as a command pilot, including 508 hours in combat.

He was commissioned in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in 1987 at the University of Southern Mississippi and continued his training at the Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

From August 1990 to April 1991, Brooks flew 49 combat missions while deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm with the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two devices, the Air Medal with six devices, the Aerial Achievement Medal with two devices and the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor, two devices, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, five devices, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal with one device, National Defense Service Medal with one device, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three devices, Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Louisiana Legion of Merit and Louisiana War Cross.