Familiar face takes over as 94th Operations Group commander

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. P.N. Brown
  • Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the command, Col. Steve Clayton took the reigns of the 94th Operations Group in an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 5.

Col. Heath Nuckolls, 94th Airlift Wing commander, welcomed Colonel Clayton back to Dobbins.

"He's bringing some real expertise to the Ops Group," said Colonel Nuckolls. "I'm happy to have him back and I know he will do a tremendous job for the wing."

The ceremony, held at the fuel cell hangar, ushered in a new era for the unit, but one with some familiar ground. This isn't Colonel Clayton's first time with Dobbins ARB or the 94th OG. He was the deputy commander for a short time in 1999 and then he served with the 700th Airlift Squadron as their operations officer until August 2004.

He will take the helm of his new command from Col. Brett Clark who accepted a new position at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. after a short term as the commander of the group.
Colonel Clayton, who's last assignment was the 911th Operations Group commander, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., has big plans for the group and is excited about the new command.

Colonel Clayton wished a warm welcome to his old comrades and friends and made a promise to the group as he assumed command. "I promise to get the best training that we can get and to continue to support each and every one of you."

Prior to joining the 94th OG, Colonel Clayton served in a number of positions to include Maxwell AFB, Ala., Little Rock AFB, Okla., and Keesler AFB, Miss., to name a few, and held a number of positions to include scheduling, current operations and operations officer.

He entered active duty through the Officers' Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, and was commissioned in December 1983. Following his commissioning, Colonel Clayton attended undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB, Ariz.

Colonel Clayton served as a C-130 instructor pilot and chief of current operations until he left active duty. The colonel then transitioned into the reserve flying the C-130H aircraft at Maxwell AFB.