KADENA AB, Japan -- Lt. Gen. Eric E. Fiel, Air Force Special Operations Command commander and Chief Master Sgt. U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Kirby, commander of 353rd Special Operations Group (SOG) briefs U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Daniel Yoo, commander of Special … 12. During an Airmen all-call Nov. 7, Webb described readiness, relevance and resiliency as the “three Rs” of the AFSOC priorities and expressed the success of the 353rd SOG in all three areas. First Lieutenant – May 1999 Group training exercises between the flying, maintenance , and support units of the 353rd Special Operations Group ensure the multifunctional abilities of Pacific Air Commandos. Air Medal w 1 OLC He was entrusted with the critical information flow and regular engagements with United States Special Operations Command and Headquarters Air Force. “We played a critical role with the Thai special operations regiment,” said Maj. Matthew Prochazka, 353rd SOG mission commander for exercise Cobra Gold. August 2002 – July 2005, Instructor Navigator, Assistant Director of Operations, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas Gabrielle Spalding), Members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) descend from a CV-22 Osprey during a fast rope and hoist training as part of exercise Keen Sword 21, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 3, 2020. EDUCATION July 2005 – February 2007, AETC Intern, Chief of Command Mobility Training Resources, AETC HQ, Randolph AFB, Texas 2007 Master of Business Administration, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas "This year we focused on further developing our partnership capacity and interoperability with 40th SQDN through low-level formation work and tactical operations on night vision goggles (NVGs)," said Maj. Mark Schmidt, mission commander for Exercise Teak Net. 16. Aircraft flown: C-141B, T-43, C-130E, MC-130H He also led a 22 person staff including the Commander’s Action Group, Protocol and Commander’s Support Staff in the daily execution of the Headquarter’s functions. Lieutenant Colonel – May 2012 The cover image depicts special operations forces from U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Navy Special Operations Command, U.S. 13. U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Kirby, 353rd Special Operations Group commander brief prospective mission commanders on his priorities and expectations Dec. 7, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Units from the 374th Airlift Wing, and from the 353rd Special Operations Group accomplished a variety of missions alongside their JSDF and joint partners across the Kanto Plains, allowing the enhancement of bilateral operations between the U.S. and Japan. Jul 2019 – Present, Commander, 353d Special Operations Group, Kadena AB, Japan Previously he was the Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command. Gabrielle Spalding), A Japan Self-Defense Forces member, center left, and a 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Airman, center right, push a containerized delivery system bundle onto a C-130J Super Hercules during Keen Sword 21, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 30, 2020. February 2008 – June 2010, Instructor Navigator, Assistant Director of Operations, 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom January 1998 – November 1998, Student Navigator, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas Col Michael A. Thomas is currently the Commander, 353d Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan. The group's first predecessor was activated in 1944 as the 3d Air Commando Group. During their visit, Lt. Gen. Eric E. Fiel and Chief Master Sgt. KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Key players for the 353rd Special Operations Group change of command ceremony look over the script before the event here June 8. Aerial Achievement Medal By Capt. William Freeman relinquished command of the 353rd SOG to Col. Jason Kirby, formerly, U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Kirby, commander of 353rd Special Operations Group (SOG) briefs U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Daniel Yoo, commander of Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) during a visit Nov. 8, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. 5. Col. Jason Kirby relinquished command of the 353rd Special Operations Group (SOG) to Col. Michael Thomas during a change of command ceremony on 3 July, 2019. 10. He commands 950 special operations personnel across seven squadrons at Kadena and Yokota Air Bases, Gabrielle Spalding), U.S. Military, Japan Self-Defense Force leadership and other service members discuss mission operations on a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, during Keen Sword 21, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 31, 2020. Commander, 353rd Special Operations Group 1 Article (U), Brig Gen Kenneth Wilsbach, 18 WG/PCC, “Sayonara to Team Kadena,” AF News Print, 26 May 2011. Download this stock image: U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Kirby, commander of 353rd Special Operations Group utilizes the Air Force Special Operations Command Air Rapid Response Kit (ARRK) command and control (C-2) node to conduct a video teleconference with Special Operations Command Pacific leadership Nov. 2, 2017, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Navy Achievement Medal 1997 Bachelor of Science, Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 1. AFSOC commander visits the 353rd SOG . Rating: Master Navigator Second Lieutenant – May 1997 The 353rd Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. As Commander of the 353 SOG, Col Thomas is the Commander of Air Force Special Operations Forces for both Special Operations Command Pacific and Korea. 2019 Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy February 2007 – June 2007, Student Navigator, C-130 Initial Qualification, 714th Training Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark. ASSIGNMENTS Located in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan is Kadena AB, home of the largest combat wing in the USAF, the 18th Wing . Col Thomas is married to the former Courtney Hutt from Carthage, New York. Captain – May 2001 320th Special Tactics Squadron 4. A CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron conducts tactical air-to-air refueling with an MC-130J Commando II from the 1 SOS during search and rescue training off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2020. 2012 AirWar College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence The official website of the 353rd Special Operations Group, U.S. Air Force Under operational control of the commander, Special Operations Command Pacific, the 353 SOG plans and executes general war and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate, resupply and support special operations forces. 1st Special Operations Squadron(MC-130H Combat Talon II) 2. William Turner, AFSOC command chief, run with 353rd Special Operations Group here Sept. 6 during the AFSOC leadership's visit. Download this stock image: 353rd Special Operations Group commander Col. William Freeman delivers his outbound speech during a change of command ceremony July 19, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. 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