First female takes reigns of air support operations squadron

  • Published
  • By Rick Emert
  • Mountaineer staff
FORT CARSON, Colo. --  Lt. Col. Deanna Violette assumed command of the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson, Colo., from Col. Howard "Ace" Shrum during a change of command ceremony June 18.

Colonel Violette is the first female to ever lead an Air Force air support operations squadron.

The 13th ASOS is an Air Force unit at Fort Carson which trains, deploys and operates with Army units, providing these units with the combat multiplier of airpower. The 13th ASOS is a geographically-separated unit of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, which is a tenant unit at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Brig. Gen. Michael Longoria, 93rd AGOW commander, assures our joint partners in combat that the U.S. Air Force is sending them our best.

"Lt. Col. Violette is a combat experienced aviator who has flown in support of our soldiers on the ground," the colonel said. "She has also been on the ground in combat with the 10th Mountain Division as a prior air liaison officer. Now she is moving to Fort Carson to provide that air and ground expertise and to support the 4th Infantry Division."

Before being selected as the next commander for the 13th ASOS, she was the director of operations for the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Colonel Violette, an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, previously commanded an expeditionary air support operations squadron in Afghanistan in 2003. She has more than 1,000 flying hours in several types of aircraft, including the F-15E Strike Eagle.

After flying combat operations during Operation Northern Watch and Operation Allied Force, Colonel Violette transitioned to the ground support role and served in several positions with the 20th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Drum, N.Y.

"There has never been a woman in command of an ASOS," said Col. Seth Bretscher, 3rd Air Support Operations Group commander. "I want to remind everybody that while it's significant that we broke that glass ceiling, we are putting Lt. Col. Violette in command of this squadron because of her qualifications that she has done in the past."

During the ceremony, Colonel Violette spoke of her new position and her plans as commander of ASOS.

"I'd love to be an example for both men and women, and it would be an honor if they can use me as a role model," she said. "Commanding the 13th ASOS is a fantastic opportunity. I'm very passionate about this career field."

Colonel Shrum, after leading the squadron for two years, heads to a global strike unit at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

He thanked the squadron's Airmen for the experiences they shared during his tenure as commander.

"I've learned a lot from every one of you," Colonel Shrum said. "In the two years of being your commander, I learned more about being a leader, about myself, and my abilities than I have learned in 20 years in the service."

(Senior Airman Frances Locquiao, 23rd Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this article.)