For New JAC Commander Colonel Matt Glunz it's a Homecoming

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Royal Air Force Molesworth, United Kingdom --  When U.S. Army Colonel Matthew P. Glunz took command last Friday of the JIOCEUR Analytic Center (JAC) at RAF Molesworth, U.K. it was something of a homecoming.
 
"As many are aware, I've been assigned here before" said Glunz, "THIS is where I grew up as an intelligence officer, and in many ways I feel like I have come home." Then a major, Glunz served at the JAC from August 2000 until August 2003, an intense period which included the resetting and refocusing of the United States intelligence community following the events of 9/11. 

Under bright sun and nearly cloudless skies - more typical of Glunz' last post in Hawaii at the U.S. Pacific Command intelligence center - U.S. European Commander Director of Intelligence Rear Admiral Norm Hayes officiated at the ceremony. In his remarks, Hayes aptly characterized the essence of this change of command, "Col. Pete Devlin has teed up the JAC for you to hit out of the park. My instructions to you are very simple: It is about the people; articulate your vision, empower your people to make real that vision; it's not about you, it's about everyone else; and finally have fun."

JAC Senior Enlisted Leader, Navy Master Chief John C. Frakes officiated at the passing of the JAC Guidon from Col. Devlin to Col. Glunz - the symbolic passing of responsibility.
In summing up his three years at the JAC (the longest serving JAC commander as Admiral Hayes noted). Col Pete Devlin said: "I didn't produce a single intelligence article; I didn't create a single imagery product; I didn't track a single ship; I didn't take apart a single terrorist cell; I never balanced a budget; I never upgraded a building, nor did I process even one travel claim. I didn't do any of the things that makes the JAC great ... It was the men and women of the JAC who performed the 1,000s of good actions that added up to the achievements of my tour of duty at RAF Molesworth."

Col. Glunz takes command of a JAC at an RAF Molesworth much changed from when he was here before. New for the Colonel is the Intelligence Fusion Centre in support of NATO which reached full capability in 2007 and seeing the newest base tenant, the U.S. Africa Command's Intelligence and Knowledge Development Division - Molesworth, which activated in 2008. The intelligence challenges today are different, but no less critical than those faced by the organization eight years ago.

As outgoing Commander, Col. Devlin was committed to a smooth transition to the JAC's new leader and spent a week with Col. Glunz walking and talking the entire command. Glunz summed it up in speaking of the JAC's reputation: "After seeing the team in action over the past week, I can honestly say, the legacy is alive and well."