Col. Cotts takes over at 38th EIG Published July 10, 2009 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The former deputy commander and commander of the 3rd Combat Communications Group is back at Tinker, this time as the new commander of the 38th Engineering Installation Group. Col. Christopher D. Cotts assumed command of the 38th EIG June 30. He was the deputy commander and commander of the 3rd Herd from June 2004 to April 2006 before serving as a senior advisor at Joint Headquarters in Iraq and as director of communications in Afghanistan. Most recently he was the director of Capabilities Development, Resource Management and Strategic Training for Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations in Arlington, Va. "Colonel Cotts brings us a wealth of experience," said Lt. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, commander of the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Speaking during the awards ceremony, General Bowlds said the colonel's wide-ranging experience would serve him well as the 38th EIG's new commander. "Colonel Cotts believes that service is a privilege and that people should bloom where they are planted," General Bowlds said. Originally an Air Traffic Control officer, Colonel Cotts served in a number of combat communications units. The Nebraska native has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Honduras, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and South Korea and is the recipient of two Bronze Stars. Prior to his new posting, Colonel Cotts was assigned to the Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations as a director overseeing civilian contractors and government workers in planning defense operations for the Global Information Grid. As a long-time communications officer, Colonel Cotts said he is well-familiar with the 38th EIG. "You are the best in the Air Force and thank God for that," he said. "We've got to be not just good, but the best. And you are." The 38th EIG is responsible for providing communications and computer systems engineering, contracting, and acquisition services for Air Force and Department of Defense installations worldwide. The unit also oversees the wartime deployment of systems telecommunications engineering managers. The 38th helped train Iraqi air force personnel in addition to providing support for seven coalition bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf region. The unit is a three-time best unit winner from Air Force Materiel Command. "Over the past three years the 38th has accomplished over 4,000 missions...to over 200 Air Force and Department of State installations worldwide," said. General Bowlds. "The 38th has achieved much over the last three years. Outgoing commander Col. Michael J. Niezgoda received the fourth oak leaf cluster to the Meritorious Service Medal for his work as leader of the 38th EIG. "In this important assignment, the leadership demonstrated by Colonel Niezgoda resulted in major improvements to the cyberspace infrastructure used in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as global Air Force and joint operations," reads the medal citation. "While orchestrating over 4,000 engineering and planning deployments, he led development of the toolset used to track $35 billion in communications systems and directed the transfer of outside plant diagrams into a Web-based tool furnishing access to infrastructure data for over 200 Air Force sites." Although unit commanders are normally assigned two year duty assignments, Colonel Niezgoda said his three years as commander of the 38th allowed him to better understand the culture unique to the group. He had high praise for his unit. "Not very often do you get the chance to command for three years," Colonel Niezgoda said. "You have established here an organization based on teamwork, customer service and service excellence." Colonel Niezgoda said the unit has achieved "99 percent mission accomplished. That's an awesome testament to the excellence of this unit." Although the majority of the unit's members are civilians, they regularly deploy worldwide. "This year we've already had 80 deployments to the AOR," he said. "Our boots are on the ground...It definitely makes me proud...Whether you're a three-star or two-star general or a brand new Airman at Lackland, the 38th has touched your lives. The 38th has given you capabilities."