OSACOM welcomes new commander

By John Hollis, Belvoir EagleJune 26, 2014

OSACOM
During a change of command ceremony at Davison Army Airfield June 19, Lt. Col. David R. Doran, incoming commander, right, assumes command of the Operational Support Airlift Command, from Lt. Col. James D. Willson, center. Col. James. W. Ring, left, c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Belvoir, Va. (June 26, 2014) - The Operational Support Airlift Command welcomed a new leader and bid adieu to its outgoing one during a change of command ceremony at the B.C. Walsh Hangar at Davison Army Airfield, June 19.

Lt. Col. David R. Doran assumed command from Lt. Col. James D. Willson, taking charge of a critical command that operates 120 fixed-wing aircraft in all 54 states and territories in support of the Department of Defense.

Doran, who had previously served with OSACOM during a previous command stint at the Alaska Regional Flight Center, will also serve as the deputy director of the Operational Support Airlift Agency. He spoke briefly, telling the many Soldiers, friends and Family present that he was grateful for the opportunity.

"I look forward to keeping this command relevant," he said following the ceremony. "There are a lot of things going on politically, and this (command) is important in maintaining our great global capabilities."

Col. James W. Ring, commander, OSAA, oversaw the command change before a number of distinguished guests, including Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard, and retired Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, the former adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard now serving as deputy assistant Secretary of the Army for training, readiness and mobilization.

Doran, who is married with six children, has enjoyed a stellar career since enlisting in the Oregon Army National Guard as a UH-1H crew chief in 1991. He was later commissioned a second lieutenant after graduating with honors from Officer Candidate School in 1997.

Doran went on to add command experience in both Iraq and Afghanistan, logging more than 450 combat flight hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and more than 400 more as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Among his many awards and decorations are the Bronze Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Air Medal (with a "V" device for valor).

Doran pledged to uphold the high standard at OSACOM set by his predecessors, including Willson, and stressed his desire to always execute his plans, serve as a responsible steward of the resources allotted to him and take care of the people under his command.

"I'm proud to call myself an OSAA warrior again," Doran said.

Willson admitted to having mixed feelings on the day after having commanded OSACOM for two years and serving as its Operations Officer for another year.

"I'm going to miss this place, that's for sure," said Willson, whose next stop will be the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. "This is a great place to be."

Ring lauded Willson for his many contributions while heading OSACOM, saying that Willson served "with utmost distinction." Ring awarded Willson both the Meritorious Service Medal and the Order of St. Michael Award for his service rank and ranked him as "among the top 1 percent" of all officers with whom he had ever served.

Willson said he was most proud of the fact that OSACOM needed just four months to get its new Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program up and running in Afghanistan.

OSACOM is charged by the Department of Defense with the centralized command and control of all Army fixed-wing aircraft based in the U.S., and its aircraft routinely support DoD missions around the world.

Twenty percent of OSACOM Soldiers are deployed at all times, Willson said.