Vice wing commander moves on after deployment

  • Published
  • By SrA. Charles Hutchinson IV
  • 439th AW Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Just 14 months ago, Col. John Healy became the 439th Airlift Wing vice commander. In March, it was time to say goodbye.

With an impending deployment to Southwest Asia, Col. Healy spent his last UTA at Westover in March.

Col. Healy came to Westover in November 2002 from Charleston as a traditional reservist. He joined the Air Force in 1989 and graduated from pilot training in 1990. Since then, he has flown the C-141, C-17, and the C-5. He served on active duty for 12 years.

He climbed the ranks during his tenure at Westover: from flight commander to 337th Airlift Squadron commander, then on to vice wing commander.

Col. Healy took over the position of vice commander on Jan. 1, 2011 saying, "I looked at it as the next step and the last step in an operational sense before I go to a staff job."

One of Col. Healy's biggest achievements as vice commander was his involvement in the 2011 ORI. "I was in charge of all planning and exercises to do with it, and that was great!" Col. Healy added, "We did fantastic!"

Becoming vice commander was an eye-opener for Col. Healy who said, "It's amazing because all of a sudden you go from the big picture being with the flying squadron to, holy smokes, there's an entire wing out there."

Col. Healy showed emotion while talking about his exit from Westover saying, "It's tough. The people here and every sense of the mission has made my ten years fantastic. It's been the best 10 years of my career!"

Col. Healy's fini flight was March 15, when he received the ceremonial hose-down from his wife Catherine.

Although a staff job may be the next step for Col. Healy, he isn't done flying yet. In his civilian job, he's a captain for JetBlue Airways.

When asked if this was his last stop in the Air Force, Col. Healy made it clear it wasn't.

"I'm going to keep riding the horse until it kicks me off," he said.