HomeNewsArticle Display

Former commanders returning for 3rd Herd heritage event today

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 3rd Combat Communic-ations Group will celebrate its 57-year heritage today. The event is expected to draw several notable guests including six past commanders.

While some former commanders retired after leaving the 3rd CCG, others went on to become generals and continued to serve the Air Force in greater capacities. Col. Matthew Harris, current commander, said he is glad to have them return for this occasion.

"The 3rd Combat Communic-ations Group is fortunate to have had many amazing leaders throughout the ranks over the years, and we are honored to see so many return and help us remember the Herd's proud heritage," he said. "It will truly make the heritage events special for all of us."

Distinguished visitors include retired Maj. Gen. Dale Meyerrose, retired Brig. Gen. Randy Witt, retired Brig. Gen. Gregory Brundidge, retired Brig. Gen. Daniel "Rick" Dinkins Jr., Col. David Babyak, and retired Col. James Appleyard.

General Meyerrose: No stranger to Oklahoma, General Meyerrose served in the Sooner state at Altus Air Force Base, before venturing to the 3rd Herd in 1992. He served as the commander until 1994. Prior to retirement in November 2005, General Meyerrose was the director of Command Control Systems and chief information officer at the Northern American Aerospace Defense Command Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Concurrently, he served as the director of Architectures and Integration and chief information officer at the U.S. Northern Command Headquarters, also at Peterson AFB.

General Witt: General Witt began his 29-year career at Vance Air Force Base. After 10 months of undergraduate pilot training, he left for a handful of assignments across the country and world. In 1986, he returned to Oklahoma to serve as the 3rd Herd commander until 1998. General Witt retired in June 1997. In his last assignment, he served as the director of Command, Control, Communic-ations and Computer Systems at the U.S. European Command Headquarters at Patch Barracks, Germany.

General Brundidge: General Brundidge was no stranger to Tinker when he arrived as the 3rd Herd commander in 2001. Seventeen years prior, he served as the chief of the Weather Communications Software Maintenance and Development Branch within the Force Command and Control Systems Office at Tinker. Following his departure from the 3rd Herd in 2003, he served in several more capacities before retiring in July 2012. In his last assignment, he was the director of Command, Control, Communications and Warfighting Integration Directorate at U.S. European Command Headquarters at Patch Barracks.

General Dinkins: Unlike commanders before him, General Dinkins' first assignment in Oklahoma was when he served as the 3rd Herd commander in 1999. After a two-year stay, he went on to become the director of Command, Control, Communic-ations and Computer Systems at U.S. Transportation Command Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. General Dinkins retired in January 2010 after a 38-year career.

Colonel Babyak: Colonel Babyak came to Tinker in June 2010 to lead the 3rd CCG. Two years later, he left and headed to the 24th Air Force Headquarters at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to become the chief of Staff, a position he still holds today.

Colonel Appleyard: Colonel Appleyard retired from his 22-year career in April 2008, after relinquishing command of the 3rd CCG. He served as the commander for two years beginning in 2006.

For more information about the heritage event, call 734-9340.