Col. Jeffrey Herd
Col. Jeffrey “Buffalo” Herd took over the Joint STARS ground surveillance unit from Brig. Gen. Tom “Moose” Moore in ceremonies officiated by Maj. Gen. Scott Hammond at the Museum of Aviation’s Century of Flight Hangar. Hammond is commander of the Georgia Air National Guard and the state’s assistant adjutant general. The 116th is the nation’s only “blended wing” combining Georgia Air National Guard and Air Force active duty airmen.
Herd, an active duty officer, has been commander of the 55th Operations Group at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. His previous assignments include commanding the 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron within the 116th.
Moore, a Georgia Guard officer who has led the 116th since March of 2007, will replace Hammond later this month. Hammond is retiring.
The 116th ACW at Robins Air Force Base consists of some 1,200 Guard and 1,300 active duty airmen along with a contingent of Army mission crewmembers and a number of civilians all supporting 17 Joint STARS aircraft. Elements of the wing are constantly deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for ground units. The 116th has surpassed 63,000 flying hours in the war on terror, gaining a number of awards including Air Force Association recognition in 2008 and 2009 as best in the Air Force for air battle management.
Maj. Gen. William Holland, 9th Air Force commander, was the visiting speaker for the ceremony. He called Moore a “marvelous, unique leader even for a Gamecock.” Holland, an East Carolina University graduate, was referencing Moore’s allegiance to the University of South Carolina.
Holland said the wing is a unique partnership between 9th Air Force and the Georgia National Guard. “It has sustained the highest operational tempo even with ten percent of the wing constantly deployed,” he noted.
Holland said Herd is no stranger to the 116th and is coming from the largest operations group in the Air Force. “That group has nine different aircraft and 11 separate squadrons,” he pointed out, “so he knows something about leading unique organizations. We could find no better match for leading the 116th.”
His charge to Herd was “to lead them well. They deserve it. You owe that to them.”
“Continue to show the rest of the Air Force — Guard and active duty — what is possible,” Holland followed. “Set an example for all as we go forward to even greater force integration.”
Hammond, in referencing the history and difficulty of the “blended” concept, said to Moore, “By every measure, you have figured out in spades this (blended wing) concept. We can be absolutely certain that we can have this change of command and the wing won’t skip a beat.”
In additionally praising Moore, Hammond said sustaining a highly competent, relevant organization only comes with great leadership. He added that Herd is all that anyone could want in a replacement.
“He has great experience, knows the Air National Guard and knows the blended structure,” he concluded.
Moore said the wing and community have been great to him and his wife, Paula. “I can’t imagine a better job to have,” he told the several hundred base, community and 116th officials attending the 40-minute ceremony. “Team Robins has been incredible.”
He praised members of the 116th, calling them his brothers and sisters to whom he owed a tremendous debt of gratitude.
“The sacrifices you made are awesome,” Moore said. “I am honored to have been your commander.”
Referring to his “Peach One” call sign, Moore told Herd that he was about to take over that tag. “And today is a good day to be a peach,” he related.
Herd told the museum audience they were looking at “one happy new commander.”
“I am humbled by this opportunity,” he acknowledged. “This is one of the highest profile wings in the Air Force and my goal is to take it to the next level.”
Herd said the bottom line mission will remain to fight and win the nation’s wars.
“We are in this together,” he told the many 116th members in attendance. “We will also succeed together. I’m excited to be part of the 116th again.”
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