Denver family watches deployed Air Force officer receive promotion

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  Family members of an Air Force officer deployed to Afghanistan watched him get promoted via video teleconference at the Air Reserve Personnel Center, here, April 30.
 
Col. William "Rob" Robinson was promoted in a ceremony in Afghanistan where he is deployed with U.S. Joint Forces Command, Forward Support Element. Colonel Robinson's sister, Stephanie Thomas, and her family, watched the promotion ceremony in the Schwing Conference room at ARPC.

"This was a very important milestone in his career," Mrs. Thomas said. "I've missed other promotions, but I didn't want to miss this one."

With the help of Master Sgt. Jesse Quick and Staff Sgt. Nina Gillis from ARPC's directorate of communications and information, Mrs. Thomas, her husband, Charles, and their children, Sheridan, Lauren and Charles III, were able to watch Colonel Robinson's promotion ceremony by VTC.

"It was a wonderful experience, being able to support the warfighter on the ground in Afghanistan as well as bring the community into the Air Force fold," Sergeant Quick said. "Colonel Robinson's sister was incredibly grateful that we went to such lengths to ensure she and her family could be a part of the ceremony from Denver. "

Colonel Robinson's mom, dad and stepmother also watched the ceremony by VTC at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. His wife and brother watched the ceremony from Norfolk, Va.

"It was an amazing experience to see my brother and my family share this from all over the world," Mrs. Thomas said. "It was more than I could have hoped for."