Ohio National Guard News

 

180th Mission Support Group changes command

Story by Airman 1st Class William Winston
180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
180th
Lt. Col. William Giezie (third from left) assumes command of the 180th Mission Support Group from Col. Trevor Noel (right) on July 16, 2011. Also participating in the ceremony are Col. Steven Nordhaus (from left), 180th Fighter Wing commander, and Master Sgt. Amy Rodriguez, 180th Mission Support Group acting first sergeant. (Ohio National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Holliker)

TOLEDO, Ohio — The 180th Mission Support Group conducted a change of command ceremony July 16, as Col. Trevor Noel passed the torch of leadership to Lt. Col. William Giezie.

Noel was recently named the director of personnel for Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard in Columbus. Noel said that as luck would have it, his birthday fell very close to the date when he learned he would take on his new position. He talked about how special this was for him as he thanked the people he worked with at the 180th.

"You have given me the best birthday gift a man could ask for — growth, and an opportunity to move forward and advance in (one's) career," Noel said. "This is not just about me but what you have done for me. I will be honest, if you guys did not do a good job of taking care of me as your commander, then I would not be moving forward."

Under Noel's leadership, the 180th MSG received an excellent rating during its last Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). ORIs are conducted to evaluate and measure the ability of a unit to perform in wartime, during a contingency or a force sustainment mission, according to "Air Force Instruction 90-201, Inspector General Activities." Every wing undergoes an ORI about every five years.

In his incoming remarks, Giezie stressed the importance of the mission support group's function. He said there have been many motivated and technologically advanced armies who lost because they lacked the proper mission support. Therefore, it is critical that the Airmen in the 180th MSG maintain the level of dedication to their mission that they displayed during the recent ORI.

In addition, Giezie said there are many challenges facing the Air National Guard as a whole, including budgetary concerns. But, Giezie said, with great challenges come great opportunities, so he feels ready to face those challenges in his new role. And Giezie said he believes that if he receives the same level of support and dedication that Noel received, then the 180th Mission Support Group will have a bright future in spite of the tests that lay ahead.