Changing of the guard at 95th Air Base Wing puts alum in the spotlight
Air Force Press Release |
A ceremony on July 6 marked the changing of the guard at the 95th Communications Group as Col. Paul R. Hardy (’81) assumed command from Col. John M. Odey during a ceremony in at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Colonel Hardy hails from Scott Air Force base, Ill., where he was the director of the Integration Engineering Directorate, Air Force Communications Agency.
| Col. Jerry Gandy (left), 95th Air Base Wing commander, passes the 95th Communications Group guidon to Col. Paul R. Hardy during a change of command ceremony July 6. (Air Force photo/Mike Cassidy) |
As the commander, 95th Communications Group, Colonel Hardy will lead an integrated team of 500 military, civilian, and contractors who operate and maintain a $72M C4 systems infrastructure for the AF Flight Test Center, AF Research Laboratory, NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, 95th Air Base Wing and 412th Test Wing here.
Colonel Hardy was commissioned in October 1985 following Officer Training School. He is a 1981 graduate of Lipscomb University, where he majored in mathematics. He has also earned a Master of Science in Computer Systems from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; a Masters of Business Administration in Telecommunications Management from Golden State University, Sacramento, Calif.; and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. In addition, he is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell and the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va.
Colonel Hardy has held numerous positions of authority throughout his career. In his previous position he was responsible for providing responsive terrestrial, air, and space network and information system integration engineering capability as well as dynamic network analysis using modeling and simulation tools along with the evaluation of emerging communications and information technology for potential use in the Air Force ConstellationNet Architecture.
Colonel Hardy's other postings include an assignment as the Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computer Exercise Planner, United States Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii; a Program Element Monitor and Executive Officer, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon; the commander, 88th Communications Squadron, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and the Air Education and Training Command Computer Systems Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas.
His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal. He was promoted to colonel in June 2007.