Forward thinking, decisive action earn intel Airman award Published March 29, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- From Washington to McArthur, some of America's greatest military officers defined themselves through unconventional thinking paired with decisive action. Employing those same traits, Capt. Paul McComas accomplished vital missions and protected lives, which helped earn him the title of 434th Air Refueling Wing Officer of the Year for 2012. McComas was a 434th Operations Support Squadron intelligence officer prior to his current assignment as an intelligence air reserve technician with the 403rd OSS at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. During his time at Grissom, McComas spent six months assigned to Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., working intelligence issues around the globe. "As a reservist, he went to AMC and quickly assumed a leadership role, becoming a go-to guy down there just like he was here," said Lt. Col. Gregory Schultz, 434th OSS intelligence chief. "What they have there is a unit support desk that intelligence people from around the world can call," the newly promoted captain explained. "As an intel person you have to find out information, and sometimes you don't always have that info at your base level, so what you do is call the help desk with a request for information." In that same role, McComas also provided intelligence support for real-world missions with the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center). "I provided intelligence support to the duty officer that sits at TACC working real-time intelligence support to AMC units around the world," he elaborated. "I would analyze and perform threat analyses for drop-zone briefings showing upcoming C-130 and C-17 air drops in Afghanistan." But, when a key system went down, it was the captain's quick thinking and ability to adapt that got the mission done and helped set him apart. The intelligence community uses a virtual globe and map program on a classified network to track surface-to-air fire against Coalition aircraft as well as other important information to assist with trend analysis and other predictive measures. But, when that system went down, McComas sprang into action. "The part of it that was ran by (U.S. Air Forces Central) went down, so we couldn't use it," he explained, adding that the program uses a file format called KML to display geographic data and other information. "AFCENT's KMLs went down, so I said we've got the same stuff in our old AMC KMLs to fill the void." By applying the old KMLs to keep the mission going, McComas said he and his team not only helped out AMC, but it was anyone using the program around the world. "He is never afraid to work, and if he runs into a roadblock, he tries to solve it," said Schultz. "He doesn't just stop and say he's done; he continues until the job is done." And, while the captain said he is proud of his military accomplishments, he is most proud of something that happened off duty. "Last fall I was able to help out a woman who had an accident right in front of me on (State Road) 218 when she had a seizure," recalled McComas. "Not only did I have to call 911 to get her help, but I had to make sure no one crashed into my vehicle with my 6-month old daughter inside as it was blind on both tops of the hill. "I managed to take command of the scene and get the woman the help she needed while maintaining the safely to my daughter," he added. While the captain is proud of his achievements, he gave credit to both his 15 years of enlisted service as well as his mentors for his success. "There's no way I could be as good as I am today on the officer side without first being on the enlisted side for 15 years," he said. "I made it to master sergeant, and all that time helped guide me to say if I was going to be an officer this is how I'd do it." And, how one does it is more important than doing it, McComas explained. "Take care of people and they'll take care of you, and if you don't know something ask," he added. "It's that simple -- people make too life hard, but life is really simple." While the captain may see life as simple, that doesn't make him any less proud of his achievements or the achievements Grissom contributes to national security. "This award is a great honor and a great way to put an end of my time at Grissom together," he said. "It makes me feel more proud of what we did at Grissom, and I miss everybody there." McComas said Grissom was home for him and truly had a family atmosphere. "You just feel closer with everybody at Grissom," he elaborated. "Part of it is being out in the country, but it's also the type of people that are there and the type of people who've continued to stay there because they want to be there and are very good at what they do." The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Grissom Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy around the globe in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
