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595th C2G under new leadership

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jessica Montaño
  • 55th Wing/Public Affairs

The 595th Command and Control Group and the National Airborne Operations Center held a change of command ceremony here July 9, 2020.

Col. Brian Golden assumed command from Col. Jeremiah Baldwin in a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Mark Weatherington, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander.

“(Golden) is a perfect match for this challenging position,” said Weatherington. “When the chips are down, he’s calm, he’s articulate, he’s decisive and he’s fearless, which are all attributes that will pay off in this job.

“I’m also going to add one more and that’s persistence in the face of adversity and I’m grateful that his persistence is being rewarded with command of these two fine organizations”

The 595th C2G falls under the direction of Eighth Air Force and is comprised of four squadrons with various nuclear command, control and communications missions.  The NAOC operations teams, made up of joint personnel from a variety of specialties serving  on board the E-4B aircraft, provide a highly-survivable, command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders and coordinate actions by civil authorities in case of national emergency. 

“This is a great honor,” said Golden. “I want to thank (Baldwin) for everything he has done for the organization. He has left this place better than he found it.”

Golden previously served as the director of the Joint Global Strike Operations Center, which oversees all peacetime and wartime actions for U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Force Air Component commander and the commander, Air Force forces.

“Force should be the last resort for us as a nation. Ironically, the military’s number one job is to prepare for war and therefore, being properly prepared for war is the ultimately deterrence,” said Golden. “The mission of the members of the 595th and NAOC team perform every day is just one of the many examples of that deterrence. And I promise I will do everything I can to make sure you are ready to perform that mission.”

In 2018, Baldwin became the first to command of both units and retires after more than 25 of years in service to the U.S. Air Force.

“For the last two years this team of team’s has accomplished their mission under the incredible and exceptional leadership of the first-ever dual hatted NAOC and 595th commander,” said Weatherington. “This team will benefit from Baldwin’s engaged leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence for years to come.”

“I cannot tell you how proud I am of this team and our families today,” Baldwin said. “I’m very humbled to have been a part of it.”

The 595th C2G is a geographically separated unit of Eighth Air Force, established in 2016.