New MSG commander started with stripes

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul --  The new Mission Support Group commander, Col. Michael Ochs, a 30-year veteran of the Air Force, has roots on the enlisted side. Colonel Ochs (pronounced "oaks") who calls Alabama home, took command from Col. Nancy Brooks during the May unit training assembly. 

"I started out enlisted in 1979 and went to the Personnel Technical School at Keesler," the colonel said. "My first duty station was at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M."
While assigned at Langley AFB, Va., the sergeant came in contact with then-Col. John McBroom who talked to him about becoming an officer. With this encouragement, Colonel Ochs finished college through a program called Operation Bootstrap.
"A prerequisite was that you had to apply to Officers Training School," he said. "If you enjoy something, you should pursue it. When I enlisted, I didn't think I would spend the next 30 years as a personnel expert." 

He first applied for flight school but it just wasn't meant to be but, "Colonel McBroom strongly recommended that I continue to pursue a commission, particularly as a personnel officer. He was definitely the catalyst for me becoming a personnel officer," Colonel Ochs said. "My application was accepted and so I went to OTS and on to my first duty assignment at Tyndall AFB, Fla. There I was the Chief of Quality Force in the Consolidated Base Personnel Office." 

He was subsequently selected for a special duty assignment and assigned to the Pentagon as the Chief of Quality Force. He was later moved in the CBPO to the chief of personnel utilization and was assigned there four years.
"It was a very rewarding assignment," the colonel said. "I met my wife there."
As the Mission Support Group commander, Colonel Ochs is in charge of all military and civilian personnel in seven squadrons, their equipment and the base facility. 

"I want to make sure that I do everything that I can to maintain the standard of excellence here as an organization. I say that because of the legacy of the position. This position was held by people that I know personally, who I respect for their professionalism and standard of excellence they held the 934th to. It is certainly going to be a challenge but the people here are outstanding ," he added. The prior enlisted airman has always had an open door policy. 

"I think it is important for people to know that their commander is accessible, and I am," Colonel Ochs said.
Colonel Ochs, who has been an air reserve technician nearly his entire Air Force Reserve career, has served on the Air Staff, two Major Command staffs, and one Numbered Air Force staff. 

Not a bad career for one who started as an airman basic.