23rd Fighter Group welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Schloeffel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  With the largest move in its unit's history combined with extensive upgrades to each A-10 in its fleet, it may almost seem fitting that the 23rd Fighter Group is set to accomplish these major transitions with a new face at the helm. 

Thus was the case when Col. Michael O'Dowd took command of the 23rd FG from Col. Henry Santicola, current 23rd Wing vice commander, during a change of command ceremony July 27 at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Colonel O'Dowd's previous assignment was deputy commander of the 23rd FG. 

"Serving as the 23rd Fighter Group commander is plain and simple a dream come true," said Colonel O'Dowd. "This is my fourth assignment with the Flying Tigers, so I bleed gold and royal blue. I couldn't have envisioned a better place than doing this job right here, right now. The privilege of commanding the greatest fighter group in the U.S. Air Force is humbling, and I can't understate what it means to sit in this seat." 

Colonel O'Dowd's history with the 23rd FG has spanned nearly two decades. He's been assigned to and flown in combat with the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons, and also commanded the 23rd Operations Support Squadron. 

This distinguished past and familiarity with the 23rd FG should help the unit through their period of transition over the next few years. The new commander said his priorities are based on setting the group up for success as they continue their legacy at a new home. 

"My main concern is standing up our fighter operation at Moody from scratch, integrating our mission into the 23rd Wing and preparing my squadrons for combat deployments they will execute next year," said Colonel O'Dowd. "Another priority is undertaking the task of executing total force integration with a reserve associate A-10 unit coming here in the latter part of this year." 

The reserve component slated to work with the 23rd FG is under the 442nd Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The association will entail the reservists flying 23rd FG A-10s and will bring 189 Airmen to perform reserve operations at Moody. 

Another major concern for Colonel O'Dowd is ensuring each arriving A-10 has received upgrades to make them A-10C aircraft. These enhancements are designed to make the aircraft more effective in combat scenarios and will allow them to remain operational until nearly 2030. Many of the group's A-10s are currently undergoing the upgrades at a depot at Hill AFB, Utah. 

"Without getting too technical, these upgrades will make our aircraft remarkably more lethal," said Colonel O'Dowd. "We will now be able employ the full breadth of precision and satellite-guided munitions the Air Force has in its inventory with only a few minor exceptions. We will be more accurate with those weapons and able to employ in a wider variety of battlefield conditions." 

Colonel O'Dowd feels his leadership style revolves around on these developments that will help his group become an even more effective weapon in the Air Force's arsenal for the Global War on Terror, he said. 

"As a group commander, I try to focus on things that are of strategic significance for my unit," said Colonel O'Dowd. "One example of this is making sure all the A-10s are coming through the depot at Hill Air Force Base. We are heavily dependent on them being able to meet production schedules, and it's one of my primary obligations to maintain insight on how they are doing and help as much as possible to marry up that process with our mission requirements. 

"(Army) Gen. (George) Patton once said 'tell a good person what you want and not how to do it, and they will surprise you with what they accomplish,'" he added. "My leadership style is to focus on those over-arching aspects of the mission that occur above the group-level and make sure the people on the chain of command have clear direction from me - which gives them the latitude to go out and make it happen. As a commander, this philosophy has been affirmed time and time again, and this is the fourth time I've had commander in my duty title so I so don't feel the need to change it." 

But while the colonel relies on confidence of subordinates in the chain of command to handle issues before they reach him, he expects every Airman in the group to uphold the high standards set by the core values that allow mission and personal success, he said. 

"My personal expectations of my Airmen are that they live according to the core values," said Colonel O'Dowd. "In the grand scheme of things, they will never run afoul with their chain of command in any shape or form if they abide by those expectations and the underlying intent in each of them." 

While the 23rd FG faces a myriad of challenges to make the transition as smooth as possible, Colonel O'Dowd feels the footprints left behind by his former commander have made his job easier, he said. 

"Colonel Santicola was very instrumental in setting up my command," said Colonel O'Dowd. "As a group commander, he had the latitude to not consider me at all in any of his decisions. But quite frankly, he was remarkably considerate and always asked for my insight, and I can't thank him enough." 

Though the dust is still settling from the unit's arrival to Moody, Colonel O'Dowd feels confident his Airmen have brought the Flying Tiger's historic legacy along with them and will flourish at their new home in South Georgia, he said. 

"I have no doubt we are going to write another piece of 23rd Fighter Group history, and I expect all my Airmen to appreciate our exceptional legacy of performing remarkably well," said Colonel O'Dowd. "When all of our current priorities are put together it seems like a monumental undertaking - but it truly is the stuff that legends are made of."