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Thomas, Dobson Named to Selfridge Leadership Posts

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Dan Heaton
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  Two familiar faces were named to new leadership roles in the 127th Wing during the annual Wing Commander's Call during the December Unit Training Assembly at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

During the ceremony. Brig. Gen. Michael L. Peplinski, wing commander, announced Col. Michael Thomas will serve as the wing's vice commander and that Chief Master Sgt. Bob Dobson will serve as the wing's new command chief.

Thomas, who has served in both the enlisted and officer corps in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard at Selfridge, has been serving as the commander of the 127th Air Refueling Group, which recently was lauded for successfully completing its first nuclear operational readiness inspection. Thomas replaces Col. David Augustine in the position. Augustine, who had served as the vice wing commander for three years, was recently named the commander of the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Ind. December was the final drill weekend with the 127th for Augustine. During the commander's call, he was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for his serving at Selfridge.

Dobson will fill the vacancy as command chief left by the pending retirement of Command Chief Master Sgt. Keith Edwards, who recently announced his plans to retire in early 2011. Edwards will continue to drill with the 127th during a transition period. After serving four years on active duty and nine years in the New York Air National Guard, Dobson transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard at Selfridge in 1996. Since 2006, he has served in leadership roles at state headquarters and with the 110th Airlift Wing in Battle Creek.

During the commander's call, Peplinski expressed his pride in serving with the Wing, which successfully completed a number of major inspections and concluding aircraft transition programs in 2010.

"In 2011, we begin to look forward to a number of AEF and other deployments and I am confident in every one of you as you answer our nation's call," the general said.

During the commander's call, Peplinski was joined by Edwards in honoring the wing's 2010 Airmen of the Year award winners.

Earning honors for 2010 are:

* Senior Airman Keith Perkins, 127th Mission Support Group, Airman of the Year.

* Technical Sgt. Matthew Alexander, 127th Mission Support Group, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

* Master Sgt. Cory McClusky, 127th Medical Group, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

* Senior Master Sgt. Ben Noble, 127th Maintenance Group, First Sergeant of the Year.

* Capt. Bryan Amara, 127th Wing Headquarters, Company Grade Officer of the Year.

* Lt. Col. Constantine Leon, 127th Air Comptroller Flight, Commander's Trophy.