Former Malmstrom missile combat crew member returns in new role as vice commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 341st Space Wing's new vice commander, Col. Paul Gydesen, is no stranger to Wing One and Malmstrom's role in providing the Nation's strategic deterrent force. His first assignment was as a missileer at Malmstrom, after departing training at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as a distinguished graduate. Now the colonel has returned to bring a career's worth of experience to Malmstrom's young fighting force. 

Colonel Gydesen, who came to Malmstrom following his assignment as Chief of theDeterrence and Strike Division at Air Force Space Command, says he's glad to be back and looks forward to spending more time here. 

"My wife, Suzanne, and I looked forward to coming back here because of all the memories," said the father of two. "Our kids were born here and we watched them grow up here." 

Colonel Gydesen's children are currently in college. His son, Nick, 21, is majoring in chemistry and plans to commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation. His daughter, Amy, 19, is majoring in psychology. 

While his son is following in his footsteps, Colonel Gydesen said he really didn't have too much military history in his family. 

"My father was in the Air Force for four years then separated," he said. "I never really intended to make it a career but I enjoy the camaraderie of the military and the level of responsibility I was given as such a young age - I thrived on it, then got another great assignment when I chose to stay in, and here I am, 20 years later, still having a good time." 

Glad to be back at Malmstrom after so long, Colonel Gydesen said he hoped to do some of the same things he did here as a young officer. 

"Suzanne and I like to fish, hike and camp," he said. "This is where we invested in our first tent and some of the camping gear we still use today." 

An important part of any assignment is taking advantage of opportunities new locations have to offer, according to the colonel, something he keeps in mind with every new duty. 

"On a scale of one to 10, one being awful and 10 being great, I've never had an assignment below a seven," he said. "An assignment is really what you make of it. You can be mad at the Air Force for sending you somewhere, or you can go out and take advantage of the area. You can sightsee and have fun with the place and if you do that, you'll look back and appreciate that place." 

Although no assignments were bad, the colonel does have a couple of favorites. 

"One of my most rewarding times was when I was a squadron commander at F.E. Warren," Colonel Gydesen said. "The ability to know the people in the squadron, work for them, push them along, watch them grow and learn new things is extremely rewarding. I was proud of what they did and worked so hard to achieve. One of the best jobs in the Air Force is to be a squadron commander." 

As far as location, Colonel and Mrs. Gydesen rank Rhode Island as one of their favorites. 

"We really enjoyed our time in Newport, Rhode Island," the Minnesota native said. "We were there for 10 months and as a missileer you don't really have the opportunity to get stationed in the northeast like that. Every weekend we were busy going to see the sights around the region - there is a lot of history there." 

Colonel Gydesen credits his affinity for military history as what drove him to serve.
"I was always a military history buff as a youngster," he said. "And through that I decided I needed to serve my country and give something back. I still hold those values today - that everyone who shares all the rights and privileges in this country owes something back. Not necessarily military service, but some kind of public or community service. So serving the military was just something I thought I should do." 

From being here as a missile combat crew member and leaving as a young captain, Colonel Gydesen said coming back as a vice commander gives him a new perspective. 

"I remember when I was here the first time and all these old colonels would come and talk to us," he said. "Now I am one of those old colonels so I try to look at it from their point of view as a lieutenant or a captain and let them stay focused on the mission at hand." 

That also is Colonel Gydesen's intent as vice commander - helping to keep the mission at hand strong and running smoothly. 

"I'm here to make sure [Col. Sandy Finan, 341st SW commander]'s goals are achieved," he said. "I'm here to reinforce her concept of people, mission and teamwork on a foundation of leadership and continue to make sure we're meeting that concept at the leadership level and maintain her vision for the wing." 

From a leadership perspective, Colonel Gydesen's advice to the young servicemembers on base is to set goals and take advantage of the time they have in the Air Force. 

"Every Airman needs to set goals - long-term and short-term," he said. "From your goals for the next two years or the rest of your assignment to what you plan to accomplish within the next five, 10 or 15 years. If you don't have something to shoot for, you won't have the drive to get anything accomplished." 

"Life is all about balance," he added. "Balance your friends, family and work and give yourself the things you need for a healthy attitude. Take time to relieve your stress and time for self-improvement." 

Another piece of advice the colonel offered was about taking risks. In order to grow personally and professionally, people need to take risks, he said. 

"Do things you're uncomfortable with," he said. "Your body and mind can get into a routine when you're comfortable. When you're in that comfortable mindset, it will fill up your day with the things you're used to doing, but if you push yourself, you won't get stuck in that mindset." 

He said leadership expects and encourages people to take risks, and to keep in mind when they take risks, they might make mistakes. 

"Leaders will react accordingly to mistakes and honest mistakes won't cost you your career," he said. 

Taking risks, balancing life situations and making the most of his situation have done wonders for Colonel Gydesen's career, taking him from missileer at Malmstrom to the wing's vice commander with lots of great times in between.