120th Operations Group receives new commander

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby
  • 120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  Lt. Col. Trace Thomas assumed command of the 120th Airlift Wing Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony during the regularly scheduled drill May 6 in the operations group auditorium.
Lt. Col. Trace Thomas, 120th Airlift Wing Operations Group commander, received the 120th OG command guidon from Col. Lee T. Smith, 120th AW commander May 6 during an assumption of command ceremony at the Montana Air National Guard, Great Falls, operations group auditorium. Thomas was previously the 186th Airlift Squadron commander. (U.S. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby/Released)

Lt. Col. Trace Thomas, 120th Airlift Wing Operations Group commander, received the 120th OG command guidon from Col. Lee T. Smith, 120th AW commander May 6 during an assumption of command ceremony at the Montana Air National Guard, Great Falls, operations group auditorium. Thomas was previously the 186th Airlift Squadron commander. (U.S. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby/Released)
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Thomas is the second commander to lead the 120th AW OG since the MTANG converted to an airlift wing March 1, 2014.

Part of three conversions and moving from the enlisted to the commissioned force, Thomas is not a stranger to change.

“Change is not a bad thing,” said Thomas. “We’ve already got all of the hurdles behind us and now we’ll just look to the future.”

Ready for the changes in the future, Thomas expressed his gratitude.

“The only reason I’m here right now is because of this outstanding support team,” said Thomas.

The guidon was passed to Thomas by Col. Lee T. Smith, 120th AW commander.

The position has been vacant since the retirement of Col. Patrick J. Hover last month.