News

Squadron commander comes home

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Denise Hauser
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  When a Reservist makes the commitment to serve his country, the path to the future can be unknown. Sometimes he ends up far away from where he grew up, other times he ends up right back where he started; as commander of the squadron he enlisted into.

Maj. Tony Edwards took command of the 86th Aerial Port Squadron Jan. 9 at McChord Field. The Everett, Wash. native started his military career in 1990 as a Navy Reservist. He came to the 446th Airlift Wing in 1997 and joined the 86th APS as a cargo loader.

"I started in the 86th APS as an enlisted Airman and now I have come full circle as the commander," said Edwards. "It's good to come home and be in command of the unit I started in. My goals are to produce quality Airmen for deployments, and the ability to demonstrate proficiency through Operational Readiness Exercises and Inspections."

"Selecting Edwards as a commander is a good example of how you can get into that position by first learning how to be a good follower as a young Airman," said Col. Gerald Vowell, 446th Mission Support Group commander. "Then when opportunity meets preparedness, you can be commissioned as an officer and learn how to lead."

Coming from commander of the 446th Logistics Readiness Flight, Edwards says, "Taking command of the 86th APS was a natural upward progression. The LRF has 40 people, and APS has 200. I was looking for more of a challenge with additional responsibility."

The mission of an Aerial Port Squadron includes processing personnel and cargo, rigging for airdrop, packing parachutes, loading equipment, preparing air cargo and load plans, loading and securing aircraft, and supervising units engaged in aircraft loading and unloading operations. The 86th APS has done three deployments in the last five years. They are getting ready to deploy again in the next few months. It's an involuntary deployment filled by volunteers.

"We have a history of the ability to do our jobs well and I want to maintain that," said the 22 year Reservist. "We have people with a wealth of knowledge and experience retiring soon. My vision is to train Airmen with that same knowledge to fill those key roles needed in the 86th APS."

"He's in a good position to be able to mentor the squadron and give them guidance on how to take advantage of opportunities in the future," said Vowell. "He's been there; he knows how to do it."