908th Ops director makes McGuire move

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jay Ponder
  • 908th Airlift Wing
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The 908th Operations Group is saying goodbye to an old friend. After four years at Maxwell, Lt. Col. Kenneth Ostrat will become group commander for the 514th Operations Group at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., working with KC-10A Extenders and C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

Few people will really understand the impact he has had on the 908th in just four years. Lt. Col. Stephen Catchings, 908th OSS/DO explained when Ostrat arrived in 2008, aircrews had just returned from a deployment.

"We were spinning up for an ASEV in November of 2008 and the 2009 ORE/ORI," said Catchings, "After the ORI, he shifted the squadron focus to preparing for the 2010 Desert Deployment. On the heels of that we rolled into back-to-back OAK Deployments."

When asked about what impact he thought he had made while at the 357th, Ostrat thought he had made a positive impact on the squadron. "I made them start making good coffee and that's a pretty major achievement," he chuckled and then grew serious saying, "I helped guide the intellect and energy that was already here," he said, "I didn't inherently create anything. All I did was give them the opportunity to be themselves."

"KODO, (Ken Ostrat, Director of Operatons) is an extremely intelligent person with a passion for the mission and a compassion for those carrying out the mission," added Catchings.

The San Francisco Bay area native described his take on Airmen at the 357th. "One of the things that stick out to me here is how hard everyone in the operations group works to get things done without worry of who gets the credit," said Ostrat, "That's the key ingredient to success anywhere. The people here are people who can make great things happen."

Ostrat passed some words of wisdom for 908th members.

"The biggest challenge for the 908th with all of the stuff going on with force structuring and finances is everyone needs to remember to keep faith in the organization," he said. "Don't get lost in worrying about things they can't control. The 908th is a great wing, it's a strong group of people who do an outstanding job and they can't afford to let themselves become distracted with chaffe."

Ostrat wanted to thank OG Commander Col. Edward Jennings, for giving him the freedom to operate without micromanagement.

"I have been given the opportunity to do things and make things happen and that has been the best management style for me to work under, give me the job and let me figure out how to do it and he's done a great job with that," he said.

Ostrat also described how Wing Commander Col. Brett Clark has done an outstanding job showing wing members how to stand up for things that are right. "Those two guys in my chain of command have created an environment where I can succeed," he said.

But McGuire won't be without familiar faces. Ostrat will be working for Col. Michael J. Underkoffler, comander of the 514th Air Mobility Wing and former commander of the 908th. Ostrat has also formerly worked for Underkoffler as chief of tactics while stationed at Keesler.

"It's going to be great to work with Ken again," Underkoffler said. "With his tactical and operations experience, he's going to add to the overall mission."

Looking forward to the McGuire move, Ostrat said there are a lot of things about New Jersey that will be cool. "There will be a different air frame though I love the C-130 and the tactical air lift mission, something new and different is always fun," he said, "My family has never lived in that part of the U.S. before, so it will be an opportunity to show the kids new things."

For members of the 908th, Ostrat concluded with some advice: "Focus on what really matters, to get the job done safely and accurately."