76th CMXG/CC dedicated to mission, OU Sooners Published Aug. 15, 2011 By Brandice J. O'Brien 72nd Air Base Wing, Staff Writer Tinker AFB, Okla. -- Twenty-two years ago, newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Mike Christian left Oklahoma to begin his Air Force career. In late June, he returned as a colonel and seasoned maintenance officer to lead the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group. Having arrived from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., where he served as deputy commander to the 58th Maintenance Group, Colonel Christian said he's excited to be in state of his alma mater, University of Oklahoma, and leading the commodities maintenance group. He has big plans for the group. "Being back in the Sooner state is like coming home for me," said Colonel Christian. "I love the fact I can walk about the 76th CMXG and see so many fans proudly supporting the OU Sooners; it's almost like being at Owen Field again." His alma mater isn't the only Oklahoma landmark Colonel Christian said he remembers. He is also quite familiar with Bldg. 3001. During his first assignment as an engine support equipment engineer for the Aerospace Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Colonel Christian often came to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center for temporary-duty taskings as a test stand installation engineer. "I wore out a lot of shoes walking Bldg. 3001," he said. All kidding aside, he gained valuable lessons from that experience which aided other assignments and led him here. "I always took that experience with me as I went off to do other things in the Air Force and now that I am back, after having spent many years as a maintenance officer, I want to produce parts for the warfighter that are cheaper and more reliable," he said, "so we can reduce the burden on the maintainer and taxpayer." As the commodities maintenance group commander, the colonel said he will take the group to the next level of excellence. To do so, the group will focus on "the flexible and responsive manufacture and repair of aerospace components. We do this by empowering our workforce through continuous product improvement." The son and grandson of retired Airmen, Colonel Christian said he leads by example and each day puts his best foot forward. He challenges the Airmen, men and women of the commodities maintenance group to do the same. "I charge all the Airmen in the 76th CMXG to make their work centers, OC-ALC, Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force better for themselves and those family members who are destined to follow," he said. "We owe it to ourselves, our families, the warfighter and the American taxpayer to do nothing less."