Promotion to colonel, change of command ceremony Sunday for new operations group commander at Delaware Air National Guard Published Feb. 18, 2009 By 010507 NEW CASTLE, Delaware -- Delaware Air National Guard Headquarters, 166th Airlift Wing 2600 Spruance Drive New Castle, DE 19720-1615 New Castle, Delaware native, local public school and college product, and current resident of Rehoboth Beach has flown in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan Photos available on request; news media are invited to Sunday afternoon ceremonies (please call ahead). Contact: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey Public Affairs Specialist, 166th Airlift Wing Cell 302-593-2126, or office 302-323-3369 E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil Release No. 2007-05-001 May 3, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW CASTLE - In a base ceremony this weekend, officer and pilot Lt. Col. Carol Anne Timmons will be promoted to the rank of colonel and also appointed as the new commander of the 166th Operations Group, part of the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard in New Castle, Delaware. The promotion ceremony and two change of command ceremonies for the 142nd Airlift Squadron and then the 166th Operations Group begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday May 6 at the base in New Castle. The 166th Airlift Wing has four group commanders (mission support, medical, maintenance and operations), each reporting to the 166th Airlift Wing Commander, Col. Bruce Thompson. Col. Timmons is being promoted from her position of commander, 142nd Airlift Squadron, which she held since May, 2005. Her official appointment date as 166th Operations Group Commander was March 2007. As the 166th Operations Group Commander, Col. Timmons is responsible for all squadrons and flights in the 166th Operations Group which totals about 230 Airmen including all aircrew and support personnel. Col. Timmons replaces Col. Jonathan Groff, who has assumed the full-time duties of air commander, providing support functions for Wing Commander Col. Bruce Thompson who serves part-time. Col. Timmons is replaced by Lt. Col. John Ptak, who assumes command of the 142nd Airlift Squadron after serving as director of operations in the 142nd Airlift Squadron. Lt. Col Ptak is a Wilmington resident living in the Pike Creek area. Col. Timmons is a native of New Castle, Del. and a product of local Delaware public schools and colleges. She is a resident of Rehoboth Beach, Del., and a previous resident of Woolwich Township in southern New Jersey. She graduated from William Penn H.S. in New Castle, Del., and has an associate degree in criminal justice from Delaware Technical and Community College, and a bachelor of science in aviation management degree from Wilmington College. She is a C-130 pilot with 30 years of military service (including service in the Delaware Army National Guard flying helicopters, and the Air Force Reserve flying C-141 transport aircraft), and is employed full-time as a pilot and first officer by United Airlines, flying Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft based in New York on U.S. domestic trips. Col. Timmons has been awarded four Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, one Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and one Air Force Commendation Medal. Career flying hours and data for Colonel Timmons: C-130 aircraft: At or near 3,000 flying hours Total military: 5,100 flying hours Total civilian: 8,500 flying hours Number of combat sorties: 120 Combat time: 401 flying hours This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. -- 30 --