Pemberton is promoted to colonel Published March 20, 2010 GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Thom Pemberton, 434th Operations Group deputy commander, was recently promoted to the rank of colonel during a special ceremony. Numerous family members and friends were on hand to help celebrate this special event. Later this year, Colonel Pemberton will become the group commander at the 927th Air Refueling Wing at McDill AFB, Fla.