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315th ALCF gets new commander

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Leanne Babcock and Staff Sgt. Rashard Coaxum
  • 315 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --  The 315th Airlift Control Flight welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony today in the Yonkie auditorium here at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Lt. Col. Don L. Thigpen II took command of the ALCF, succeeding the units previous commander, Lt. Col. Zebedee O. T. Lau, who is set to retire.

"In leadership it's about giving people opportunity," Thigpen said. "They've been given to me and I really appreciate it and I'll make the best of it."

Thigpen - a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with more than 6700 flight hours - most recently held position as the ALCF's operations officer as well as being a C-17 instructor aircraft commander.

A 22-year- veteran of the military, Thigpen has stretched his career across three branches of service on the way to becoming the ALCF commander.

Looking forward to his mission ahead as unit commander, Thigpen said that he realizes his role and that he has to step up and step into the role that his predecessor left behind.

"Lt. Col. Lau leaves big shoes to be filled, but he has faith in me," Thigpen said. "Someone like him is impossible to replace, you can't replicate that kind of experience."

"As commanders, we are the helmsman that steers the ship, we are the rudder and I'm looking forward to the future," he said.

In his finishing words during his initial speech as commander, Thigpen reaffirmed that he is happy with where the ALCF is now, with the future that it holds as well as working with his fellow airmen in the days to come.

"Zeb [Lt. Col. Lau] has left me a fine, happy baby and it's growing," Thigpen said. "I'm glad to be here and I look forward to supporting you all in the future.