552nd ACG commander shares thoughts on group before retirement Published June 8, 2012 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- As Col. Roger Brown prepares for his final change of command and retirement to Phoenix, he reminisced on his most recent Tinker assignment and offered advice to Airmen. The 552nd Air Control Group commander arrived at Tinker for his second assignment in July 2010. During his two-year tenure he said his previous opinion of Oklahomans was reinforced and his unit achieved several great feats. "Oklahoma people are wonderful and I'm most proud that we built the right team and let the Airmen blossom," said Colonel Brown, who first came to the 552nd ACW from 1992 to 1996 to serve as an instructor, senior director and weapons officer. "This group has accomplished great things because of our quality Airmen." Specifically, Colonel Brown referenced the challenge of the 552nd Air Control Network Squadron providing software support for Block 40/45 modification, while still maintaining the Block 30/35 system. Meanwhile, the control and reporting centers won the 2011 Air Combat Command efficiency award. "We did it by challenging conventional wisdom, rethinking how we do business, and reducing the lift requirement for any one of our CRCs by 70 percent and saving millions of dollars in the process," Colonel Brown said. "Oh, and the CRC's did this while deploying at a 1 to 1.2 ratio dwell and controlling all of the airspace over Iraq until the drawdown and Afghanistan, and they are still doing it." Col. John Rauch, 552nd Air Control Wing commander, said he agrees the group's Airmen were outstanding, but also credits Colonel Brown's leadership style for the group's accomplishment. "The 552nd ACG excelled under Colonel Brown's leadership," he said. "While enduring a high operations tempo to control the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan, the group was remarkably innovative. The Airmen dramatically reduced the lift required to deploy while becoming more effective and reducing costs -- simply amazing!" While achieving the group's accomplishments, Colonel Brown said the group faced hefty challenges including convincing the Air Force to spend an estimated $70 million to modernize the CRCs. "It is much overdue and will actually save the Air Force $100 million over the next five years," he said. To his successor, Col. Alex Koven, Colonel Brown said he suggests the new commander listen to his key staff, squadron commanders and chiefs. To his Airmen, he said, "The key to success is not complicated, just put in an honest day's work and follow the technical orders, or rules." Colonel Brown's change of command ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. June 14 at Bldg. 230's Dock 2.