BIDDLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Pa. -- The 111th Attack Wing, headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania, welcomed Col. Deane E. Thomey as their new wing commander during an assumption of command ceremony here June 13, 2021.
The Commander of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Michael Regan, presided over the ceremony recognizing Thomey, who officially assumed command of the 111th when he arrived here from the Pentagon in April of 2021.
“It is very important to welcome the newest members to the Pennsylvania National Guard family and the 111th Attack Wing family, Col. Thomey of course, and his family." said Regan. "We often comment about how we can do nothing with respect to our mission without the families that back us up. So, welcome to our family.”
An assumption of command is a military tradition that uses the passing of a military unit flag to represent the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit to its commanding officer. After officially receiving the guidon and the authority it symbolizes, Thomey, a native of Sherwood, Arkansas, addressed the Wing as their new commander.
Thomey said his three priorities for the Wing were operational excellence, people, and partnerships.
After giving detailed examples and quotes for each concept, Thomey introduced the wing to their new vice commander, Col. Rebecca Gray, a former member of the Georgia National Guard, who most recently served as the director of equity and inclusion for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.
“I said that you Airmen are one of my top priorities,” said Thomey. “And to that end, I've picked an ace as our vice wing commander, Col. Rebecca A. Gray.”
Thomey thanked the 111th ATKW for their support throughout his transition.
“I very much appreciate the warm greeting that each of you has given me, and I look forward to every day that I get to work with you,” said Thomey. “I am humbled to get that opportunity. I want to say I'm very excited and truly amazed to get to join this outstanding team at the 111th, an amazing team of citizen Airmen who have answered the call both at home, and abroad last year."