New 819th RHS CC brings excitement, experience to command

MALMSTORM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- It's a sunny and dry afternoon when Col. Terry Watkins jumps into a 67,000 pound bulldozer with a sense of urgency and excitement to try something new. The nearly 100 degree temperature doesn't slow down the new 819th RED HORSE Squadron commander, as he moves large amounts of earth with the gigantic bulldozer. With more than 22 years of Air Force experience, he said there is always an opportunity to learn more, and he appears to enjoy every minute of his newest training. 

Colonel Watkins, his wife of 19 years, Anne, and their daughter Danielle, 10, moved here recently. He took command June 20 immediately after spending 10 months at the Army War College, and as the civil engineer squadron commander at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. 

"I've been lucky to have great assignments," the colonel said. "I earned my civil engineering degree from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., and I'm actually working in the field in which I studied. It's been great." 

The Fort Plain, N.Y., native grew up in a small farming community, where he spent his summers doing chores on his grandfather's dairy farm. This hard work ethic and sense of duty to serve the country runs deep in his family, as his father served time in the Army toward the end of World War II. 

The colonel sees life in the military as a big team effort no matter what rank you hold. The wing is a bunch of different pieces and parts that come together to accomplish the mission and people are doing their part daily, he said. 

"I really like the movie 'We Were Soldiers' because it shows how exemplary leaders at all levels in the unit, whether they are officers, NCOs or spouses, contribute separately but as one team to overcome extreme adversity," he said. "It also highlights the valor, bravery and sacrifice made by our Vietnam veterans and their families which was diminished because of the public opposition to the Vietnam War." 

A team effort he is most proud of was back at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee. The Large Rocket Test Facility, or J-6, was constructed to safely test solid fuel rocket motors at simulated altitudes of 100,000 feet, he said. 

"Following a detonation of a rocket motor at Arnold in the J-5 rocket test facility in the mid-80s, the need for J-6 was identified to avoid catastrophic destruction of other testing facilities located near Arnold," the civil engineer said. "The purpose of the J-6 is to test the solid fuel rocket motors in our [missile] inventories to validate their thrust, as well as other performance parameters, and potentially extend their service beyond their original designed life." 

The project was especially memorable to Colonel Watkins because of its size, complexity and the performance of the team. The three-year, $226 million project was completed three months early and $10 million under budget. 

"The project also included two live rocket fire tests before it was declared operational," he said. "Looking back at it now, the work done at Arnold is directly affecting the mission capabilities here. There's a direct link to all the missile missions [in the command]." 

The colonel's mission as the new 819th RHS commander is to provide the Air Force with a highly mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency and special operations worldwide. Part of this role is learning about his people and the equipment. 

"Today I'm going to learn how to drive a D-7 bulldozer from one of our operators. It's something I've never done before," he said. 

As the colonel walked out into the summer heat to meet his trainer, he was greeted by Senior Airman Ryan Holt, 819th RHS pavements and heavy equipment operator. Airman Holt immediately followed the colonel up and into the cab of the nearly 67,000 pound bulldozer to explain the ins and outs of driving such a massive piece of machinery. 

"[Teaching the commander] was a great opportunity to provide him hands-on experience in what I do. I talked about the general functions of the equipment as he maneuvered through the controls and the motions of the machine until he was comfortable," Airman Holt said. "After that, the training was between the dozer and him."