JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 315th Airlift Control Flight welcomed a new commander Saturday during a change of command ceremony here at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Maj. John D. Ramsey, III took command of the ALCF, succeeding the unit’s previous commander, Lt. Col. Don L. Thigpen, II who is scheduled to attend the Army War College in the months ahead.
Col. Caroline Evernham, Commander of the 315th Operations Group, welcomed Ramsey to the best job in the Air Force and gave him a few words of guidance going forward in his new role.
“Being a commander is challenging but it’s very rewarding and being a commander of an ALCF keeps you busy but it’s very diverse and I think you’ll enjoy it,” said Evernham.
“John has had tremendous leadership experience and has proven himself time and time again,” said Evernham. “I think this is the right time for him to take on command of an organization that is poised and ready for whatever he is going to lead them to.”
After thanking fellow leadership, friends and family in attendance, Ramsey summed up his leadership style in a simple quote by Andre Malraux, a French novelist and statesman who served in a French tank unit during WWII.
“ ‘To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less,’ ” said Ramsey. “This is my goal to the men and women of the 315 ALCF, to be here to serve, be your mouthpiece and support and to keep you rising on the direction you have set. We are going to do some fantastic stuff.
The 315 ALCF is a highly decorated unit as it won the Air Force Reserve Command ALCF of the Year for 2013 and both AFRC and Air Mobility Command ALCF of the Year for 2014.