Articles

36th OG welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Team Andersen members gathered to welcome the new commander of the 36th Operations Group, Col. Jeff Vandenbussche, during a change of command ceremony held at Hangar 6 Jan. 11.

Colonel Vandenbussche assumes the role formerly held by Col. Tod Fingal, who served dual roles as 36th OG commander since February 2009 and 36th Wing vice commander since Oct. 30.

"When I think about progress, I think about Tod Fingal and what he has done in a very short period of time," said Brig. Gen. Phil Ruhlman, 36th Wing commander in regard to Andersen's Continuous Bomber Presence and Theater Security Package missions.

"Tod [came] in here and had a vision that was clear the second he walked into my office. He tied the [OG mission into each group's mission] and accelerated his group into one of the best groups - one of the most functional, special, outstanding component groups I have even seen."

Colonel Vandenbussche comes to Andersen AFB from Barksdale AFB, La., where he served as the deputy commander of the 2nd Operations Group. He praised the support he's received from Team Andersen since his arrival.

"When we found out we were coming to Guam, I was a little apprehensive about how daunting it would be to move a family - [my wife], a five year old and a three year old - halfway around the word to the middle of the Pacific," Colonel Vandenbussche said. "From the very beginning, Team Andersen, or 'Family Andersen,' took away that apprehension."

Colonel Vandenbussche joined the Air Force in 1991 upon graduating from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in speech communications.

"I'm a bomber guy by trade and before that, I was intel," Colonel Vandenbussche said. "That doesn't matter to me any longer. I'm an Airman, first and foremost."

Colonel Fingal offered up positive, encouraging words to the new OG commander.

"You will be an outstanding addition to the leadership team," Colonel Fingal said. "I wish you great success during your command."