Meet the new SFG commander, the future is bright

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  On Sept. 25, 1993, 2nd Lt. Robert Frederiksen arrived at his first base to be a security police Defender. His first base was Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. 

Little did Col. Frederiksen know, that over 20 years later he would be returning to Malmstrom where it all began, to take command of the 341st Security Forces Group, the largest SFG in the Air Force.

"It's awesome," said Frederiksen. "I always wanted to be a cop. It was my first choice and I was lucky enough to get it. When I first got here as a second lieutenant in 1993 I never imagined I would be back as the group commander. I'm very blessed. It feels like coming home."

As a new lieutenant fresh out of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1993, Frederiksen made the move from his home in Florida to Montana ready to serve as a cop in the Air Force.

"My father was military, he was a Marine," said Frederiksen. "I always wanted to be in the service. It's funny; originally I was going to join the Navy or the Marines. But then the Air Force became available and I saw the light."

Having come from a military and a law enforcement background, being a Defender was a natural fit for Frederiksen.

"My whole family has a law enforcement background," said Frederiksen. "My dad was a cop as a civilian after he did his service as a Marine. My sister and brother-in-law were cops in Georgia. My wife was a forensic scientist in the Phoenix, Arizona, crime lab, and her father was a commander in the Phoenix Police Department."

Frederiksen began his military career at Malmstrom as a flight leader in the 12th Missile Squadron, which back then was the command squadron for the SFG. He later became officer-in-charge of the mobile fire teams and convoys.

"After my time in the 12th MS, I worked the convoys and fire teams," said Frederiksen, "And Colonel (Tom) Wilcox (341st Missile Wing commander), who was then Lieutenant Wilcox, trained me on how to do my job. It's great to work with him again."

In the time Frederiksen spent away from Malmstrom he has commanded squadrons at Creech AFB, Nevada; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Kunsan Air Base, Korea; and served at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

"I was at the Pentagon for five years before I came to Malmstrom," said Frederiksen. "I worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in antiterrorism policy. We left D.C. Aug. 2, and I took command here Aug. 21."

The drive from Washington D.C. to Malmstrom was long, but still a pleasure for Frederiksen and his family.

"My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 11 years," said Frederiksen. "We have a son Connor, 8, a daughter Emma, 5, and a baby girl Katie who is 4 months old."

Being a husband and father of three little children, the new SFG commander understands the pressures his Airmen are under every single day.

"In a deployed environment you're away from your family and the focus is on the mission," said Frederiksen. "Our Airmen here deploy in-place to accomplish the mission. And in such a large area, you could be 10 miles away or 150 miles away. But it's a lot of the same things; being away from families, the same stressors."

The wing commander has three priorities here at Malmstrom. Frederiksen's priorities directly correlate with the commander's. Frederiksen believes in focusing on Airmen, and their families to accomplish the mission.

"Here at Malmstrom, it's a huge mission with a huge responsibility area; we secure and defend the 341st Missile Wing combat capability," said Frederiksen. "The vast majority of our Airmen are young, under 25 years old. As an airman first class, that's a huge responsibility. We are in charge of the security of the nation's nuclear weapons. The nation is relying on us to keep them safe."

It is very important for Frederiksen to make sure that his Airmen understand their role in the nation's strategic defense strategy.

"Every time I do a post visit or I go to guard mount I emphasize to my Airmen the role they have in national defense," said Frederiksen. "In my opinion, there is no more important job in the Air Force than the job they do. I tell my Airmen they make a difference every single day. They are the last line of defense between our adversaries and our nuclear assets. They are the assurance and deterrence."

The 341st SFG has more than 1,200 personnel and is responsible for protecting the base, 15 launch control centers and 150 intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed across 13,800-square-miles of central Montana.

But not everything in the Air Force is all business. Every Airman, from airman basic to colonel, has to balance work-life with home-life to maintain the whole Airman concept.

"In my off-duty time I like playing with my kids, spending time with my family," said Frederiksen. "My son, Connor, is in Boy Scouts and we're actually going fishing this weekend."

As well as being an exceptional father and husband, Frederiksen is also a movie lover.

"I love movies," said Frederiksen. "My favorite movies range from the comedy 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' to the old classics like 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones.'"

Being the new 341st SFG commander was not something Frederiksen saw coming as a young Airman, but he has accepted the challenge and is grateful to be here again.

"I feel very honored and very blessed to have the opportunity to work with this outstanding team," said Frederiksen. "I am privileged to be a part of the team. I am humbled to be given this opportunity."

It's been a long journey for Frederiksen to return to the Malmstrom family, however, it isn't over yet.

"I think Malmstrom and Global Strike Command have turned a corner," said Frederiksen. "We are starting to see things turn around in the Air Force for the nuclear enterprise. We have the right leaders and the right support. The future is bright for Malmstrom and the nuclear enterprise."