AFWA welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By G. A. Volb
  • AFWA Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The Air Force Weather Agency here held a change of command ceremony March 26, at its new headquarters building, ushering in the reign of Col. John Murphy who arrived following a 13-month tour in Southwest Asia.

Murphy, who served as director of staff to the Combined Forces Air Component, U.S. Central Command prior to his arrival, was commissioned in 1982 after graduating from Lyndon State College. He later earned Master of Science degrees in Meteorology and Strategic Studies.

As director of staff, he was responsible for ensuring efficient and effective operations of both the Combined Air and Space Operations Center and Air Force Forces staffs which provide operational command control of all air and space operations in Multi-National Force-Iraq, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan and Combined Joint task Force-Horn of Africa.

"It's great to be back," said Murphy, who's relationship with Offutt Air Force Base dates back to 1982 when he served as European Forecast Section officer in charge for Global Weather Central.

"The Air Force Weather Agency is recognized more than you'll ever know," he told the crowd of AFWA onlookers, referring to his first-hand knowledge of mission planners using weather related products. "We're often our toughest critics ... but the warfighter seeks out our advice and counsel.

"We are respected around the world, not only by our U.S. forces, but also by our coalition partners as well," he stressed. "We will continue the war fighting focus; that's my charge to you. We are all warfighters, whether we're deployed or they (the warfighter) are reaching back to us."

Referencing current challenges to streamline and produce weather products more efficiently, he used an Alaskan Iditarod analogy. "If you're not the dog out front, the view never changes," he said.

Weather functions, like other Air Force specialties, he suggested, must adapt or be left behind - leaning processes and finding ways to provide high-end products cheaper.

Maj. Gen. Marke Gibson, who presided over the change of command, said change of commands are always "bitter sweet events" since they bring to a close one tenure of command, while beginning another.

The general pointed out it was "fitting that one of the first official functions we hold in this new facility is this change of command."

Gibson, who is director of operations, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, added as he looked out over the AFWA crowd; "Make no mistake, this new building stands as testimony to our nation's faith in you, your mission and what you do for our nation every day."

It's a mission outgoing commander Col. Patrick Condray will miss. "While I'm very much looking forward to my upcoming job in the Office of the Secretary of Defense -- helping to ensure unified action between ourselves and our NATO allies - the down side is leaving the men, women and mission of AFWA at a key moment."

Rest assured that "AFWA is in the fight," said Condray. "I speak not only of the 26 members of AFWA who are deployed today around the world, mostly in Southwest Asia, but because this is a long war, we must continue to look to the right capabilities to meet future needs and find ways to get them to war fighters at a cost our nation can afford.

"To the men and woman of AFWA, it's been a honor and a privilege to be your commander," said Condray. "I thank you for the tremendous kindness, dedication and energy you have shown throughout our time with you. Keep your focus on the fight, keep pushing to find out what our deployed warriors need, keep finding better, faster, cheaper ways to get the weather right and getting it exploited by decision makers for military ops in peace and war."