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Leader lays cornerstones of successful joint base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua King
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  





He was shocked when he received the news. If you would have asked 2nd Lt. Thaden if he would ever become a wing commander, he would've probably said, "No, I don't think it is possible."

"Command is a privilege," said Col. Frederick D. Thaden, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th Air Base Wing commander. "To be named wing commander is really an honor."

Thaden commissioned into the Air Force in 1991 upon graduating from Brigham Young University, in Utah. He began his career in the intelligence field as a Human Factors Behavioral Scientist.

Feeling that a customer-service focused career was a better fit for him, he quickly changed his path, becoming a force support officer.

According to Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, and the 87th ABW's higher headquarters here at JB MDL, the colonel has spent the last 24 years in the Air Force gathering a great deal of experience that has more than prepared him to lead the joint base's service members. 

He has "a unique understanding of the joint community and our sister services," Martin said during Thaden's change of command ceremony. "Col. Thaden is the right person, at the right place, at the right time, for the job."

Armed with the expertise needed to earn the "privilege" of wing leadership, Thaden now looks forward to laying the foundation of his tenure with his four command philosophy cornerstones.

The colonel is dubbing his priorities "RC3" - Readiness, Customer Service, Caring for our People and Community Relations.

Thaden places readiness first among his cornerstones. As a veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Joint Forge and Joint Guardian, he understands that being prepared is crucial to the success of any mission.

"Ensuring the base's service members are combat ready at all times should be foremost in each of our minds," said Thaden. "Being ready means that you are prepared and being prepared means you have what you need to win and stay safe."

Part of readiness plays into the tenet of customer service. The 87th is responsible for providing first class support to each of its more-than-eighty mission partners. Furthermore, the former personnelist highlights the importance of all customers, whether they are military members, mission partners or outside organizations.

"As the Air Base Wing commander I am committed to enabling our mission partners," said Thaden. "As such, it is important for us to have open lines of communication with our customers - military or civilian."

As a husband, father of seven and grandfather of four, taking care of service members and their families is one of Thaden's command philosophies closest to his heart.
"Family is really important to what we do as an organization," Thaden said. "It's the family support network that helps the military members continue with their job day in and day out.

"As I continue to serve, I hope family members throughout the base will understand that I really appreciate what they do for us," he added.

With a population of more than 38,000 on a joint base that spans 42,000 acres and across two counties, the military and family members, as well as base employees, of JB MDL are all part of the communities outside the gates.

"I would like to make sure we are showing appreciation and thanks to the community for their support to us," Thaden noted. "I also want to make sure our military members know that there are many opportunities for us to give back to the community."

Building upon the groundwork begun by his predecessors and the hard-working men and women of JB MDL, the humble former lieutenant who never pictured becoming a wing commander has laid his cornerstones to further build upon the joint base and its diverse missions.

"In the beginning I reacted with disbelief," Thaden joked with a smile. "I can honestly say that I am very pleased and am looking forward to walking this journey with each of you."