Meet Colonel Welch

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Born and raised in Montpelier, Vt., Lt. Col. Keith Welch, the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Commander, and his brother knew what their future held for them.

"I had two uncles in the Air Force and my Dad was in the Army," said Colonel Welch. "We were pretty much destined for military life."

His father worked as a radio technician and was stationed in Korea. However, he held off starting his family until he had finished his service.

Upon returning to Vermont, his father took a job working as a civil engineer and his mother worked as an accountant. They eventually had two sons.

As a young man, Colonel Welch participated in football and track. During college, he was less active in sports and concentrated more on the Air Force ROTC drill team.

Following in his families footsteps, Colonel Welch decided to become an Air Force officer.

Colonel Welch attended Pennsylvania State, where he spent four years in the Air Force ROTC program.

"I was really hoping to go into intelligence," said Colonel Welch. "But, it all worked out for the best."

He graduated with a major in engineering in 1992. Colonel Welch spent almost a year waiting for orders.

"I moved to New Jersey," said Colonel Welch. "I found a job on Fort Monmouth with the Army. I worked as a lab technician doing some really cool work on robotics."
Some of the work made its way into chemical and biological sensors we use today.

He eventually was given orders to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

"That is when I knew the Air Force knew what I needed more than I knew what I needed," said Colonel Welch. "I was expecting to get orders to somewhere out west or overseas and they sent me to Florida. I was so happy when I drove over the bridge and saw water."

About two years into his assignment, he married his long-term girlfriend, Sandra, who he met while in college.

Following the four years at Eglin, he returned to school. He spent a year and a half at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a master's degree in Construction Engineering & Project Management. Next, he was sent to Lajes Field in the Azores.

"It was an awesome place to go," said Colonel Welch. "I think it is one of the best kept secrets in the Air Force. It is by far the best assignment we have ever had."

After Lajes Field it was on to Ramstein Air Base, Germany; McChord AFB; Wash., Royal Air Base Alconbury, England, and finally, Tyndall.

"I am not sure there are many places the Air Force could send me, where I would not want to go," said Colonel Welch. "We have been really lucky."

Colonel Welch has six months left at Tyndall, followed by a tour at the Pentagon. He hopes to, one day, receive orders within the Pacific Air Forces.

"I have done a lot of what I wanted to do in the states and Europe," said Colonel Welch. "It would be cool to take my family to Korea, but anywhere in the PACAF would be fun."

Colonel Welch is very humbled by the opportunities and benefits the Air Force has created for him and his family.

"My wife and I have really enjoyed being able to travel and see other cultures," said Colonel Welch. "It is in our house, our lives and our food. We are also appreciative to be raising our kids in such a secure environment."

Colonel Welch and his wife have two daughters; Valerie, 12 and Amanda, 9. The girls are active in basketball, girl scouts, soccer, piano, and the whole family takes part in AWANA.

Colonel Welch's wife is able to stay at home with the kids.

"It is great that she can stay home," said Colonel Welch. "There are not a lot of careers these days that a family can survive on one salary. We are fortunate that the Air Force allows us to do that."

Colonel Welch's typical weekend is spent with his family, however in his free time he also enjoys photography.

After he retires from the Air Force, he hopes to either teach or work on pushing alternative energy. While stationed in the Azores, he taught a volunteer computer class to adults and it has been on his mind ever since.

"I remember I would walk away from my normal work day beat and tired," said Colonel Welch. "But, when I got to the classroom and started teaching, it would give me new energy. It was amazing to be able to instill confidence in these people, who an hour and a half earlier had no idea how to work a computer."

As for alternative energy, Colonel Welch sees it as one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and our country.

"I would like to work with wind and solar energy, and I'm sure there are technologies that have not even been developed yet," said Colonel Welch. "I want to help get them to the point where they are economically viable and more pervasive in our economy."

Colonel Welch believes a lot of his passion for alternative energy and environment comes from his time spent in Germany.

"They have really embraced energy conservation," said Colonel Welch. "If you drive through their towns, you will see wind farms all over the place. Here in this country we tend to say 'well not in my backyard.'"

He is also a firm believer in recycling.

"It has become a part of the family routine," said Colonel Welch. "We don't even think about it anymore. I wish we did more in the Florida Panhandle to recycle; there is just not a market for a lot of it. In Germany they recycle everything, even the grass clippings."

His passion for the environment carries on into is work.

"When I arrived at Tyndall the squadron had five open enforcement actions," said Colonel Welch. "You acquire them by doing something that puts the environment at risk. We now have zero."

Colonel Welch takes his job very seriously and has played a major part in improving the base since his arrival.

"Civil engineering almost every aspect of an Air Force base," said Colonel Welch. "But, we have focused a lot of energy on demolishing old buildings and replacing them with new, more efficient ones."

Several new dorms have been added to Tyndall and the Horizons center is undergoing a makeover, which will allow for a 600-person conference center, pizza pub and bar.

There will also be a brand new energy efficient fitness center opening soon. It will be three times the size of the old facility, but will use 20 percent less energy.

"What we tried to build is what I like to call the 'Golden Triangle' of support activities for Airmen," said Colonel Welch. "They can live, eat, work out and play in one central area. It is especially helpful for Airmen who do not have cars."

CE has also recently paired up with Security Forces to refurbish their dog kennels and the combat arms training and maintenance classroom. They are also undergoing a process to combine the fire and police control centers.

Another key part of CE, is the Natural Resources flight. They are responsible for helping preserve the wildlife on base.

"We just had about 50 to 60 sea turtles wash up on shore," said Colonel Welch. "They were so cold, they could not move. Natural Resources helped rescue the turtles and had them transported to safety."

Colonel Welch has a very hardworking team and he believes, as a support agency, they exist to keep the planes flying and get the people of Tyndall what they need.

"It is important, for all of us, regardless of what we do, to keep our customers in mind," said Colonel Welch. "Everything we do, we should do as if we are working on our own house."

Colonel Welch has been serving the United States Air Force for almost two decades and plans to continue for as long as he can.