OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska -- The 595th Command and Control Group, a geographically separated unit of Eighth Air Force, and the National Airborne Operations Center held a change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Aug. 16, 2022.
Col. David Leaumont accepted the two guidons from Col. Brian Golden, with Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, 8th AF and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander, serving as presiding official.
“I’m very grateful and honored to be here,” Leaumont said. “I consider it a great honor to work with you all and look forward to the greatness we can accomplish in the coming months.”
The new commander arrives to the 595th C2G from the Pentagon, where he served as the assistant deputy director for nuclear and homeland defense operations since April 2021.
“The choice of who takes command of the 595th and NAOC was not a light decision and we’re very fortunate to have [David],” Gebara said. “I am absolutely confident in this choice and very excited for him to take command.”
Leaumont is a B-52H weapons instructor, master navigator, commanded the 2d Operations Support Squadron and served in various roles within the National Military Command at the Pentagon.
“We are very luck to onboard his expertise into the group,” Gebara said. “David was hand selected for his reputation for tackling the mission with efficiency and tenacity. I know he’s not going to just leverage and build on the foundation Brian left, but I know he’ll make it even better.”
Established in 2016, the 595th C2G manages all the Air Force’s Nuclear Command and Control Communications. Combined with NAOC, the Mission 1 team provides robust, redundant and uninterrupted NC3 capabilities and operations to national command authorities.
“Over the coming months, we’ll continue to focus on our role in strategic deterrence and being an agile, back-to-basics command focused on today’s readiness,” Leaumont said. “But while we focus on being ready to fight today as the warriors we are, we’re also going to prepare that battlefield for the future and for the Airmen and joint warriors that are going to come after us.”
For his work over the past two years, Golden earned the Defense Superior Service Medal. He now transitions across the installation to U.S. Strategic Command where he will work in J3.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m actually pretty long winded, but right now I can’t because I’ll start crying, but I came into this job and all I’ve wanted to do is leave it better than I found it,” Golden said.
The outgoing commander led the group’s no-fail mission through a global pandemic and a runway replacement project during his tenure.
“Brian has been a tremendous leader for this organization at a critical time,” Gebara said. “Thank you for your efforts for the men and women of the 595th. Your accomplishments are a testament to your leadership ability.”
As the 595th C2G and NAOC commander, Leaumont will oversee four squadrons and more than 800 personnel.