140th Maintenance Commander Promoted at Team Buckley Ceremony

By Master Sgt. John Nimmo, Sr., 140th Wing Public Affairs / Published September 20, 2009

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Brig. Gen.l Trulan Eyre, Commander of the 140th Wing, along with Lt. Col. Thomas Shetter, Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group, stand at attention during the National Anthem September 19, 2009 Buckley Air Force Base, CO. Shetter was promoted to the rank of Colonel after 24 years of dedicated leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf, Colorado Air National Guard/Released)

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Brig. Gen. Trulan Eyre, Commander of the 140th Wing, along with Lt. Col. Thomas Shetter, Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group, stand at attention as the orders for promotion are read September 19, 2009 Buckley Air Force Base, CO. Shetter was promoted to the rank of Colonel after 24 years of dedicated leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf, Colorado Air National Guard/Released)

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Brig. Gen. Trulan Eyre, Commander of the 140th Wing, administers the oath to Colonel Thomas Shetter, Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group, September 19, 2009 Buckley Air Force Base, CO. Shetter is being promoted to the rank of Colonel after 24 years of dedicated leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf, Colorado Air National Guard/Released)

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Colonel Thomas Shetter, Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group, watches his son attach his new rank to his dress uniform September 19, 2009 Buckley Air Force Base, CO. Shetter was promoted to the rank of Colonel after 24 years of dedicated leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf, Colorado Air National Guard/Released)

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Colonel Thomas Shetter, Commander of the 140th Maintenance Group, speaks to the members of the 140th Wing after being promoted to Colonel September 19, 2009 Buckley Air Force Base, CO. Shetter is being promoted to the rank of Colonel after 24 years of dedicated leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf, Colorado Air National Guard/Released)

Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. -- Lt. Col. Thomas R Shetter, 140th Maintenance Group commander was promoted to colonel surrounded by friends and family and more than 500 members of Team Buckley Sept. 19.

Presiding over the promotion ceremony was Brig. Gen. Trulan A. Eyre, commander of 140th Wing.

Brought on as maintenance group commander under tough conditions, Eyre explained how Shetter has lead his people to do a great job and that they together are carrying on the tradition of excellence in aircraft maintenance.

"I am proud and privileged to be a part of your promotion today and extremely thrilled that your family is here. They need to see this. They needed to know how important you are to our wing. How your group thinks about you and we couldn't do what we do without your support and the support of your son, Thomas," said Eyre.

After the formal pinning of his new rank, Shetter took the podium and thanked his friends, family and service members for their support and service to their country.

Col. Shetter spoke about being blessed, thankful and his defining moments of inspiration.

"I've been blessed in so many ways. I grew up in a wonderful family. I had the best mom and dad a kid could ever have or ever ask for. I wish they could've been here today but I know they're here in spirit. And I'm sure that my mom is smiling somewhere because this event created a little family reunion," Shetter said.

"We've had a long and sometimes difficult road over the last couple of years. The ops tempo has never let up and you guys have never let down," Shetter continued as he thanked the men and women of his 140th Maintenance Group.

It was during a critical unit re-inspection and Brig. Gen. Eyre's belief in him to lead the men and women of his group that inspired Shetter. "You want to talk about pressure," Shetter said. "That was a defining moment for me. When I walked out the door I knew that I would do anything not to let that man down," he continued.

Honoring retired Brig. Gen. Wayne Schultz, a mentor from his past, Col Shetter closed with a quote from Dr. Seuss, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Colonel Shetter is the Commander, 140th Maintenance Group, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado Air National Guard, Colorado. The 140th Maintenance Group consists of over 500 combat ready Airmen who provide 24/7 maintenance and support for over 20 F-16C aircraft in a Mission-Ready and Alert Aircraft posture.