JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 628th Air Base Wing conducted a change of command ceremony Sept. 5, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Col. Terrence Adams assumed command of the 628th ABW from Col. Jeff Nelson. Nelson is scheduled to assume command of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California, on Sept. 16, 2018.
The 628th ABW is responsible for delivering installation support to Joint Base Charleston and its mission partners to ensure mission-ready forces to combatant commanders. As host to over 60 Department of Defense and Federal agencies, the wing provides installation support to a total force of over 90,000 Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, dependents, and retirees across four installations. In addition, the wing provides mission-ready expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders in support of joint and combined operations worldwide.
To kick off the ceremony, the officiating officer, Maj. Gen. John Gordy II, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, expressed his confidence in Adams with this new command and thanked Nelson for his service as the Joint Base Charleston commander and 628th ABW commander.
“I’m truly honored and humbled to be here to transfer the responsibility of command from one outstanding leader to another,” said Gordy. “With [Adams’] remarkable experience, he’s the right Airman at the right time to lead this wing and the DOD’s flagship joint base. Col. Adams, I have no doubt you are the absolute perfect fit and leader for this command. The entire expeditionary command wishes you the very best and we are very excited to see you in action.”
Adams, a former enlisted Army soldier from Tuskegee, Alabama, entered the Air Force through Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 019 after graduating from Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama, with a degree in Computer Information Systems. He commanded six times at the squadron and group level, three of these commands while deployed. Throughout his career he looked to several influential people in his life for guidance and support including his family, former supervisors, and during the ceremony mentioned a well-known veteran he was moved by in hopes to inspire his new wing.
“Late Senator John McCain was a unique individual and he embodied these core values of the Navy – honor, courage and commitment,” Adams said. “Senator McCain set a high bar, and I hope we can all try to reach that bar. And as I heard the national anthem today and also the prayer, I was reminded by the anthem of why I serve and the prayer reminded me of who I serve.”
Adams was previously stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, serving as the director of communications and chief information officer at Air Mobility Command headquarters. He was responsible for developing and implementing cyberspace plans, policies and procedures for 62,000 personnel at 12 major installations and numerous world-wide en-route mobility support locations. After acknowledging the invaluable support of his mentors at his previous command, Adams directed his speech to the service members of Joint Base Charleston.
“As I turn to the people I’m really here for, being the great men and women of this wing, I look forward to meeting you,” Adams said to the members of the 628th ABW. “The guidon passed was relatively light, but the burden of command can be heavy. Luckily, I don’t have to carry that burden alone. I have each one of you to help me carry it. I look forward to working with you and having an organization with dignity and respect – an organization I’d be proud to serve with and hope you’d be proud to serve with. That is my challenge and charge to you. We will execute the mission with our joint base partners and community leaders, and we will have fun doing it at the same time.”