27 SOMSG changes command

Published June 25, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Col. Steven Kimball assumed command of the 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group from Col. Babette Lenfant in a ceremony here June 25.

"This has been a bittersweet day for me," Colonel Lenfant said to her group before rendering her final salute as the 27th SOMSG commander.

"You have accomplished what was truly inconceivable two years ago," said the colonel, referring to the transformation that has taken place on the base since its transition from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command in October 2007.

Colonel Lenfant's next duty station will be Yong San Barracks, Korea.

Col. Stephen Clark, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, presented Colonel Lenfant with the Legion of Merit. Prior to awarding her, he noted that, "the citation doesn't mention the personal sacrifices she made in the name of the mission."

The new commander, Colonel Kimball, assumed command of the 27th SOMSG after arriving here from his previous duty station as commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Pacific Region based in Okinawa, Japan.

"He is one of a few that (Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander, AFSOC) knows by name," said Colonel Clark, referring to Colonel Kimball's past assignment as the deputy commander for the 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

"The growth of this wing is a unique part of our history," said Colonel Kimball. "The (27th SOMSG) under Colonel Lenfant has been truly impressive and will continue to deliver these kind of results. I look forward to serving with you as a 27th SOW Air Commando."

Colonel Kimball, while in command of AAFES Pacific Region, oversaw $1.8 billion in retail, food and service enterprise employing 8,000 associates in Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii and outlying Pacific islands.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Central Florida in 1986, Colonel Kimball received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Some of Colonel Kimball's past assignments include commander of 55th Services Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., U.S. Air Forces in Europe Theater Aerospace Operations Support Center A4S and Commanders Action Group Officer, headquarters USAFE, Rammstein Air Base, Germany, and most recently commander of AAFES Pacific Region.