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72nd MSG welcomes new leader

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 72nd Mission Support Group welcomed a new commander July 20.

Standing in front of approximately 200 people, Col. Julie Boit succeeded Col. Herb Wesselman at a change of command ceremony in the Tinker Club ballroom.

"Colonel Julie Boit has an outstanding reputation as an officer and a leader. There's no doubt she will be a superb commander," said Col. Bob LaBrutta, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, who has known Colonel Boit since he was major and she, a captain when they both worked in the Air Force Personnel Center. "Bottom line, it's not just reputation alone that got her this job. I knew right away when I met her years ago that she was the type of officer who leads from the front. Julie, congratulations on this opportunity ... we are looking forward to your leadership and I know you're going to propel this group to the next level of excellence!"

Colonel Boit came to Tinker from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where she served as the chief of Military Force Policy Division to the deputy chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services at U.S. Air Force Headquarters.

Though the new commander wasn't expecting an assignment at Tinker, she said she was happily surprised upon her arrival.

"If our welcome to Tinker is any indication whatsoever, this will be an awesome assignment," Colonel Boit said. "My goals at this stage are very simple. After watching Tinker and the mission support group excel during the inspection, my goal is provide top-notch, responsive customer service -- the kind that Team Tinker expects and deserves, and to provide outstanding support to our installation's mission, people and families."

Colonel Wesselman departed Tinker for the Air Mobility Command Headquarters' Communications organization at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he will work with the Mobility Air Forces Infrastructure.

During the ceremony, Colonel LaBrutta presented Colonel Wesselman with the Meritorious Service Medal - fifth oak leaf cluster.

"Herb Wesselman is a towering man and when you walk up to him, you can either be intimidated or because of his graciousness nature, I call him the 'gentle giant,' you know you are going to be taken care of by this guy," Colonel LaBrutta said. "He loves everybody and when you come into his orbit, he's going to treat all of us like we're part of his family."

Colonel Wesselman said he too will miss the 72nd MSG.

"To the Airmen on the mission support group, over the last two years, we have been honing and polishing the weapon for Team Tinker, not just so we can look good. We've been doing it to make Team Tinker work and be the best it can be," Colonel Wesselman said. "Through exercises and real-world deployments, we've gotten really good at getting people out the door ... you've prepared and polished and you're ready, right now, for that inspection team to come here. I know you're going to do great and water their eyes the whole week."