COLONEL THOMAS C. ADANG

Colonel Thomas C. Adang is commander of the 45th Weather Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. The squadron provides operational weather services to all Eastern Range ballistic missile and spacelift activities, space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center, and Patrick Air Force Base flight operations, as well as weather warning protection for over 25,000 personnel and facilities valued at $7 billion.

A native of Glendale, Arizona, Colonel Adang was a distinguished graduate of Purdue University and was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in May 1973. He entered the United States Air Force on an interservice transfer in July 1977.

Colonel Adang is a five-time commander. While a Marine officer, he was the Communications Center Platoon Commander supporting the Commanding General, 3rd Marine Division during 1975 division operations to evacuate Americans from Laos and South Vietnam and to rescue the kidnapped USNS Mayaguez crewmen from Cambodia. As a weather detachment commander, he led a hand-picked unit of weather forecasters supporting classified, Presidentially-directed projects in Las Vegas, Nevada. During Operation DESERT STORM, Colonel Adang served as the 26th Weather Squadron Commander, supporting deployed bomber and tanker operations of Strategic Air Command's (SAC) Eighth Air Force. As the first non-rated commander of an Operations Support Squadron (OSS) in SAC, Colonel Adang led the 2d OSS through its initial standup and transition from SAC to Air Combat Command. Colonel Adang assumed his present command after attending Air War College.

Colonel Adang and his wife Jolyn Foxworthy of Tucson, Arizona have two daughters, Jennifer and Julie.

EDUCATION

1973 Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology, Purdue University, Indiana.

1978 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

1981 Master of Professional Meteorology degree, Saint Louis University, Missouri.

1989 Doctor of Philosophy degree, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

1994 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1973 - July 1977, Communications Officer, Camp Courtney, Okinawa and Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina.

2. July 1977 - July 1979, OIC, Surface Forecast Unit, and Assistant Chief, Forecast Applications Section, Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

3. August 1979 - December 1980, Air Force Institute of Technology Masters Student, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.

4. January 1981 - July 1983, Commander, Detachment 7, Headquarters Air Weather Service, Las Vegas, Nevada.

5. August 1983 - June 1986, Air Force Institute of Technology Ph.D. Student, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

6. July 1986 - July 1989, Staff Meteorologist, Detachment 1, Headquarters Air Weather Service, Pentagon.

7. August 1989 - January 1992 Operations Officer and Commander, 26th Weather Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

8. February 1992 - July 1993, Operations Office and Commander, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale, Air Force Base, Louisiana.

9. August 1993 - June 1994, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant June 6, 1973

First Lieutenant June 6, 1975

Captain June 6, 1977

Major October 1, 1984

Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 1989

Colonel June 1, 1995

(Current as of December 1995)

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