Communicators get new commander Published June 16, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Carl Berry 434th Public Affairs office GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- What do triathlons, the Air Force cycling team, 434th Air Refueling Wing, 507th ARW, a high school football, a wrestling coach and a high school math teacher have in common? The answer is Maj. Robert Atkins, the new commander of the 434th Communications Squadron located at Grissom. Prior to coming to here he was the wing executive officer for the 507th ARW at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. One of the first goals the new commander said he has is to recruit and hire motivated Airmen to fill air reserve technician and civilian job vacancies within the squadron. After filling the positions he plans on focusing on leadership development. "Not only is this my first command, but we have a lot of new supervisors in the squadron and my goal is that we all embrace and successfully grow in our personal and group leadership," said Major Atkins. "The squadron has a lot of potential to grow and excel through any challenge that the wing or Air Force Reserve Command presents us." Although Major Atkins has been a reservist his entire Air Force career, he said he's never seen the facilities that Grissom has or the level of support offered here on other reserve bases. "The facilities here are amazing; they're better than any other reserve unit that I have visited," he elaborated. "What I enjoy the most about Grissom is the friendliness of all the people that I have met, and although I am still meeting and getting to know everyone in the squadron, I have been very pleased with how the Airmen and support staff come ready to work and tackle new opportunities." The only thing that worries the major is the winter season, so he will reserve any additional comments until after he and his family survive their first Midwest winter, he said with a smile. Major Atkins began his Air Force career in 1997, on the enlisted side, with the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron at Tinker. He was commissioned in 2001 through the Deserving Airman Program. The 434th CS is part of the 434th ARW, home of the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
