Need for speed: Chief trades A-10 mission for F-22

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. R.J. Horstman
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana --  Chief Master Sgt. Tommy Robinson, 917th Maintenance Squadron, trades southern hospitality for northern exposure as he takes a position with the 477th Fighter Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in early April.

As maintenance superintendent for the 477 FG, Chief Robinson will be part of the newly-established F-22 associate program there.

"The F-22 is really awesome," Chief Robinson said. "It's the Air Force's newest fighter. With the total force initiative, I think I can really make an impact on the program with the active-duty association. I'm really looking forward to it."

"I have always had a good rapport with active duty (here), so I can take my experience of working with the 2d Bomb Wing to the 477th and working with active duty there," he said.

One of the key differences in Chief Robinson's job as maintenance superintendent here and there is, he will go from being in charge of the maintenance on two airframes to only one airframe. Working in an associate unit, and of course, the difference in temperature will also play role in his adjusting to the new job, he said.

One of the primary challenges Chief Robinson will face head on when he arrives at the 477 FG will be to staff the maintenance organization.

His experience from his time here as maintenance superintendent has taught him to "select the right people for the right positions."

"I've learned the importance of building a solid team with our active-duty counterparts by hiring the right supervisors, technicians and traditional reservists to work side by side with active duty in all the shops."

"Hard work and excellence in everything we do. It's what I learned from my mentors and people I've associated with here at the 917th. I'll bring this (knowledge) to Alaska."

Chief Robinson will spend the remainder of his time tying up loose ends and saying goodbye to everyone, he said.

"I've got a lot of great memorable times here," he said. "We deployed the A-10 to a lot of different arenas, and it was pretty neat to do that."

In his 21 years with the Wing, he deployed twice to Aviano, Italy, during the Bosnia conflict with Operation Deny Flight. He also accompanied the A-10s on other training missions to Boise Idaho, McDill AFB, Fla., McChord AFB, Wash., and Hill AFB, Utah, among others.

Most memorable for him during his time here were the evacuation of the 926th Fighter Wing and the temporary relocation of their mission to Barksdale.

"I was never more proud of the 917th than during that time," Chief Robinson said. "The people in the shops opened their arms to the 926th. It wasn't long before we were flying airplanes and working together as a solid team."

"It's kind of bittersweet to leave," he said. "I have a lot of friends down here. We'll miss the culture, but we'll try to bring a lot of that with us up there," Chief Robinson said.

"I've been affiliated with the A-10 since 1983, so it's going to be fun and challenging as well to start with a new aircraft, to finish my career with one of the most technological aircraft in the Air Force inventory."