Malmstrom’s history takes a new turn

  • Published
  • By Kiersten McCutchan
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  History can often be a mystery, but there is usually an end and a beginning when unraveling it. Though sometimes it can be cut and dried.

Such an example of a simple start to a new history happened this summer when the 341st Missile Wing was joined by Troy A. Hallsell as the base historian.

He replaces Bill Medema who recorded and analyzed the business of the base for five years.

Before arriving in Montana, Hallsell was a history professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennesee, his hometown. He also worked as the editor of the West Tennessee Historical Society Papers and was a graduate student at the University of Memphis.

Hallsell enlisted in the U.S. Army as an intelligence analyst after finishing his degree in 2005.

In 2013, he began work on his PhD in history at the University of Memphis.

"I fell in love with history as a profession," he said. "History is a great intellectual exercise because in working with history, you're always asking and answering questions."

But history, he added, is learning to deal with nuances and shades of gray, not absolutes.

"The past is usually very, very complicated," he said.

Hallsell desired to go back into public service when he saw the Department of Defense was recruiting historians.

"I see great value in public service," he said. "I believe in working towards something bigger than yourself and this explains many of my education and career choices. The federal government is a great place to meet this personal goal."

Hallsell said Medema left him a lot of material to give him a successful jump start.

"In the near term I will carry on as he did. However, as I become more confident with this position I will start doing stuff my way," he said.

An important goal of his, Hallsell said, is to interview many of Malmstrom's enlisted personnel.

"So much wing history comes from the leadership group -- the very top down," he said. "I need to understand how people view themselves within this organization, and also see where their views overlap or diverge from a command perspective."

In terms of Hallsell's own history and perspective, and perhaps looking at life through the lens of history, he said, don't be afraid to make a change.

"I faced the challenges of leaving something that I'm familiar with many times and entered a new path completely foreign to me. The Army, graduate school, and now here, for example," he said.

Don't be stagnant because history is exciting when there is change, he said.