HHC's new executive officer welcomed to USASMDC/ARSTRAT

By Ms. Carrie E David (SMDC/ARSTRAT)November 6, 2009

Tighe
1st Lt. Blair Tighe, executive officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, arrived at the command in October. Tighe joined the Army in 2006, and this is his second duty st... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Patriotism runs in his family. His grandfather, grandmother, uncle, father and brother have all donned a uniform.

For 1st Lt. Blair Tighe, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company's new executive officer, though, it was the bravery exhibited by America's greatest generation that convinced him that he too wanted to join.

"I was 14 years old when I watched a documentary of the invasion of Normandy during World War II and saw paratroopers jumping into combat," Tighe said. "I could not believe the amount of courage and character it took to do that.

"My dad was an officer, and so he talked to me about the Army and serving and how important it was," Tighe continued. "But he didn't really push me; he didn't force me. He told me I could be whatever I wanted. After seeing the paratroopers though, I was hooked."

The now 27-year-old officer graduated from the University of Georgia in December 2006 and commissioned into the Army the same month. Tighe entered active service in January 2007. After completing his officer training, he attended airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga.

"The cards just fell right in place," Tighe said. His first duty station was the 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C. - called the "Home of the Airborne."

Eight months later, the new officer, and newly-married man, was on his way to Iraq on a 15-month deployment as a compound commander at Forward Operating Base Camp Bucca.

"These complexes were huge. You'd have a working crew of 60-70 service members at each compound," Tighe said. "But it was really neat because it was across the board - Marines, Air Force, Army and Navy. We all came together to work together."

Tighe has now begun his next challenge. He and his wife, Katherine, arrived at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., in October when he joined the command.

"My initial impression of SMDC is one that reflects an incredible amount of responsibility in regards to the tasks that the staff and civilian counterparts take on here to support the warfighter," Tighe said. "It makes one want to do his job to the best of his ability.

"My goal here while serving SMDC is to enhance Headquarters and Headquarters Company's overall efficiency and effectiveness in order to support the entire SMDC military staff and its civilian counterparts," Tighe said.

Carrie.E.David@us.army.mil