You might say Col. Bruce Bowers' path to becoming the 446th Airlift Wing's commander started in a decompression chamber in the mid-1980s during undergraduate pilot training.

After a stint working as an F-15 Falcon developmental engineer at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., while on active duty, Bowers entered into undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

While in a decompression chamber as part of his training, Bowers looked out on all the Airmen and civilians working to help him accomplish his goal.

"I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is amazing,'" he said. "It was about just realizing the amount of effort it takes to launch an airplane and how many people were involved."

The 52-year-old Charlotte, N.C. native still holds that same appreciation for all the entities and people that make the mission go.

"Without (acknowledging) that aspect, your toolbox is half empty," said Bowers, a North Carolina State graduate. "There are not many days I can't go without going around and thanking people for what they do."

Bowers took over as commander of the Reserve wing earlier this month. He is responsible for the organization, training, equipage and worldwide readiness of a combined Reserve and civilian wing of nearly 2,400 people at McChord.

The colonel comes to McChord Field after a stint as deputy director of Air and Space Information Systems at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at Robins.

Earlier in his career when he was a member of a competing Rodeo team, Bowers got a first-hand encounter of the base and what its Airmen are capable of as the McChord team won a handful of trophies.

"McChord has a history of being the jewel of the mobility world," he said.

When Bowers was notified that he would be taking over the helm of the 446th Airlift Wing, he got excited.

"I jumped up and down and cheered," said Bowers, who has settled in Lacey with his wife. "This is everybody's dream job."

Bowers is a senior command pilot with more than 9,000 hours in a variety of different aircraft, including the C-141 Starlifter, KC-10 Extender and C-17 Globemaster III. He's excited about the chance to continue to help the wing build strong bonds with local employers in the community who employ Reservists. The many hours and days Reservists need to put in nowadays to maintain their training and be ready to assist the country at any time and in any way is something employers need to be up to speed on, he said.

"For all of that to happen, we need their support," Bowers said. "It's our job to let them know this isn't just a weekend job."