22 AF Director of Operations honored for years of dedicated service

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. James Branch
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  Members from Dobbins Air Reserve Air Reserve Base, Georgia, community leaders, family and friends gathered to bid farewell to Col. Heath J. Nuckolls, 22nd Air Force director of operations and readiness, on Aug. 6.

After 34 years of service, Nuckolls retired from the U.S. Air Force during a ceremony at the Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center drill hall.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James Bankers, former 22nd AF commander and ceremony officiator, said Nuckolls is retiring at the top of his profession, and explained why he appointed him to command three times.

“When I choose a commander, I look for two qualities in them - integrity and respect,” said Bankers. “Nuckolls has integrity. He does the right thing, and respects the people he leads.”

Nuckolls received his commission after graduating from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in 1982. He was a distinguished graduate of the university’s Air Force ROTC program that same year. After serving over seven years on active duty, he joined the Air Force Reserve in 1990.

A command pilot with over 4,500 hours in many variants of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, Nuckolls served in a number of operational and staff assignments. He took his first command assignment in 2002, as the 94th Operations Group commander. He later served as wing commander for the 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and the 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins ARB.

“I was reluctant to taking on leadership positions,” said Nuckolls. “General Bankers took me under his wing. No one achieves success on their own. I thank him so much for being persistent with me.”

After his tenure as 94th AW commander, Nuckolls became the 22nd AF chief of staff. There he was responsible for supporting the Reserve’s air mobility, flight training and flight test operations for 16 subordinate units with 15,000 Reservists across America.

“Nuckolls is a good man, a great leader, and someone who cares for his Airmen,” said Bankers.

Reflecting back on the many milestones of his career, Nuckolls thanked his family, friends and fellow service members for their support.

“As we go through life, we leave impressions,” said Nuckolls. “You all have left an impression on me, and hopefully, I’ve left one on you.”