New installation commander shares expectations Published July 31, 2008 By Brandice Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- From Tarheels to Sooners. North Carolina native Col. Allen Jamerson said he'd heard Tinker had a "top-notch" reputation long before he moved to Oklahoma. So, when the 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, who succeeded Col. Mark Correll July 18, received the news about his upcoming assignment at Tinker, not only was it an enjoyable move for his family, it was a welcomed one. His children, Jerard and Miki, were particularly excited as they are about to start their college careers at the University of Oklahoma as a sophomore and freshman. "Because I spent some prior time at another Air Force Materiel Command base, I always heard about the reputation of other bases' and Tinker's reputation was always 'top-notch,' particularly the relationship between the base and the community," Colonel Jamerson said. "Everyone said it has the best civic relations that you will ever see, and I have absolutely seen that so far." As he gets settled, Colonel Jamerson, who came to Tinker from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., said he intends to uphold Tinker's reputation and strengthen its processes and people. He said his goals are to ensure military and civilians are trained and ready for deployment. He also wants to make certain families of deployed members are ready to handle challenges that might emerge while their loved ones are deployed. Colonel Jamerson said equally important to his first goal is to provide the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center with world-class support, and also, develop Tinker personnel to the best of their potential. "The biggest way I plan to achieve this is let people do their thing," Colonel Jamerson said. "The one thing I have seen is we have some great programs already in place and we have great processes already in place. My task is to take a look at those and build on those really good programs and processes." Colonel Jamerson is a University of North Carolina alum and career security forces member. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1983 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 1986. Colonel Jamerson said he was employed in the social work career field for about a year, when he wanted to try something different. He wanted something with leadership opportunities that enabled him to see the world. Colonel Jamerson pursued the Air Force. Initially, he said he wanted to enlist, but when that didn't pan out, he returned to UNC at Pembroke and joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He was commissioned a distinguished graduate. At the time, his goal was to become a colonel and security police group commander. Colonel Jamerson reached his goal in 2005, while stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. Colonel Jamerson, became a colonel in August 2004; and from 2005 to 2007 was commander of the 90th Security Forces Group at the 90th Space Wing.