Meet Colonel Holmes: MSG Commander

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. --  Famed artist Michelangelo once stated, "I am still learning."

This life motto can also be attributed to Col. Christopher D. Holmes who took the helm of the 325th Mission Support Group Aug. 2.

The Natick, Mass. native grew up wanting to be in the military since the time he was a child collecting toy soldiers. His love of aircraft made a natural fit for the Air Force.

"I've been amazed, humbled and honored by everything I've been able to do," Colonel Holmes said.

After commissioning from Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1992, the history major left Tufts University in Massachusetts and headed to his first assignment as the 21st Special Operations Squadron current operations deputy chief, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

The colonel recalls this as one of his favorite assignments because of the beautiful country.

"I've never had a bad assignment," Colonel Holmes said.

While each of his assignments has been rewarding in its own way, the colonel admits one has a special place. For four years while at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., he worked in various positions each with a role in assisting in saving Airmen in downed aircraft.

"The most rewarding assignment was working at the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center," Colonel Holmes said.

Other assignments have played to one of his many hobbies- reading.

During Colonel Holmes tenure at Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. and while earning his second of four master's degrees, he met his future wife. After both were deployed to Afghanistan, they returned to Maxwell and their courtship began.

The passion for learning runs in his family. Colonel Holmes' step-daughter is studying at Baylor University in Waco,Texas and his 15-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son are already enrolled in college.

"I am so proud of them," the colonel boasted.

Colonel Holmes love of learning goes so deep that he aspires to one day earn a Ph. D in history.

The colonel plans to apply the things he has learned from numerous command positions and history studies to the "exciting and daunting task" of leading the mission support group at Tyndall.

"It is an incredible honor to command at this level," Colonel Holmes said. "The thing I enjoy is it really makes you think. How does an issue in one functional area impact or affect another area, or the entire installation? It's thinking about that bigger picture that I enjoy."

The 325th Mission Support Group provides world-class customer service, combat readiness and sustainment support to the 325th Fighter Wing and the more than 30 associate units of Team Tyndall. These support services and activities include providing civil engineering, security, communications, personnel, services, contracting, supply and transportation support for about 23,000 active duty, civilian, dependent and retired personnel.

"The mission support group touches everything," Colonel Holmes said.

Colonel Holmes asks Airmen to consider the following advice.

"Life is too short," he said. "Do your job, but take a moment to savor being a part of something bigger than yourself....and learn all you can."