Air Force Reserve Command announces new wing commander for the 433rd Airlift Wing Published Sept. 28, 2015 By Benjamin Faske 433rd AW JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Air Force Reserve Command officials recently announced the selection of Col. Thomas K. "TK" Smith Jr. as the new commander of the 433rd Airlift Wing. Colonel Smith is currently serving as the 459th Air Refueling Wing, commander at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Colonel Smith attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. in 1986 where he was a distinguished graduate earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics. Col. Smith was also a Guggenheim Scholar earning a Master of Science in Flight Structural Engineering in 1987 from Columbia University, New York City, New York. Col. Smith attended undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona in 1987 and was later selected to be a T-38 flight commander for the 97th Flying Training Squadron at Williams Air Force Base. Col. Smith served as an assistant professor from 1995-1998 in the Department of Engineering Mechanics at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. In 2001, Col. Smith entered the Air Force Reserve and has seen duty as an instructor, aircraft commander, pilot resource manager, operations officer, and deputy operations group commander. Col. Smith previously served in the 433rd Airlift Wing from May 2007 - September 2012 as the 433rd Operations Group deputy commander. "He is an excellent choice and will continue to move our wing forward," said Col. David A. Scott, 433rd AW, commander. Col. Smith's assumption of command is tentatively scheduled for the January's Unit Training Assembly. To view Col. Smith's current biography, please use the link below. http://www.459arw.afrc.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=18059