Airmen of the 51st Fighter Wing salute during a ceremony at which Col. Thomas H. Deale assumed command of the wing, based at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Deale replaces Col. Jon A. Norman, who moves to a new assignment at the Pentagon. (Franklin Fisher / Stars and Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Col. Thomas H. Deale assumed command of the 51st Fighter Wing here Wednesday, succeeding Col. Jon A. Norman.
Norman, 44, is to become executive officer to the Air Force chief of staff at the Pentagon. He had commanded the wing since June 2007.
Deale, 43, took command during a morning ceremony inside the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron hangar, with the wing’s airmen drawn up in ranks and invited guests in their seats.
Seventh Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood praised Norman as an officer who during the past 16 months had "led this wing to awesome levels of excellence."
"His perseverance has been unmatched; his devotion to the well-being of the people has been relentless," Wood said.
The wing had received an overall "excellent" rating during this spring’s Pacific Air Forces unit compliance inspection, and numerous awards that included one last year for best anti-terrorism program.
As wing commander, Wood said, Norman had command of more than 4,500 personnel, $2 billion in assets and an installation budget of $120 million.
Norman also succeeded in directing more than $250 million in military construction and modernization projects, including the completion of two housing towers and a $4.6 million community center, Wood said.
In his farewell remarks, Norman thanked various commanders and held out special praise for the wing’s maintenance airmen, calling them "world-class."
And he singled out the wing’s flying squadrons and its operations support squadron, saying they would make North Korea "pay dearly" should it ever move against South Korea.
"Every time we demonstrate our capability in every single exercise we do, I know they’re watching and I know that’s what’s preserving peace here in the South," Norman said.
Wood presented Norman with the Legion of Merit with first oak leaf cluster.
Deale told the audience his new assignment at Osan was "like coming home."
He served at the base from October 2001 to June 2004 in various assignments, the last as a lieutenant colonel commanding the wing’s 25th Fighter Squadron.
His oldest daughter turned a year old at Osan, and his second daughter was born while his family was stationed here, he said.
"It is my highest honor to serve as your commander," Deale told the airmen.
