BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Lt. Col. Sharon Stehlik, who helmed Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization Detachment 2 for four years, transferred command to Col. William R. Bridgemohan during the month of October.
The hand-off was billed as a soft-transition, with Bridgemohan in the driver’s seat and Stehlik providing guidance and making introductions.
Stehlik’s last day was Oct. 31.
Stehlik had steered the Hawaii-based detachment since October 2012. She helped the detachment navigate the inactivation of the Readiness Management Group, which it previously reported to, and the activation of its new parent organization, HQ RIO.
She said the transition, which seemed straight forward on the surface, was interesting to watch for the insight it provided on all the behind-the-scenes steps like manpower, communications and systems access.
At more than two years out from the transition, Stehlik said she is amazed that the organization is already operating at “business-as-usual” and the focus has moved on to process improvement. She added that throughout the transition, her number one priority was taking care of her customers – Individual Reservists and the U.S. Pacific Command organizations they serve.
“Our primary goal was to make it seamless and I personally think we did a good job at that,” said Stehlik.
While Stehlik is leaving Detachment 2, she will remain in the Air Force Reserve, serving as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Air Force Reserve Command REG staff at the Pentagon.
Bridgemohan, a New York City native, comes to the detachment from the Pentagon, where he was the chief of the International Engagement Program. The new commander is space acquisitions officer by trade but has spent much of his Air Force career in joint and interagency environments serving in advisory roles. He has deployed four times to European Command and Southern Command, including Israel in 2011 as the strategic engagement advisor to the U.S. Security Coordinator to the Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In 2010 he served as a Congressional Liaison Officer for Southern Command during the Haiti Earthquake.
“I have been blessed with incredible assignments, especially in the Reserve,” said Bridgemohan, who has spent eight of his 19 years in the Air Force as an IMA.
He said his experience as an IMA offers him insight into the needs of Detachment 2’s Individual Reservist and active component customers. He also recognizes the strategic importance of the Pacific theater and knows the unique experiences and skill sets IMAs bring to the fight are a force multiplier. In order to ensure the Individual Reserve program is as effective as possible, he plans to continue the Detachment’s current path of streamlining processes and providing education to the organizations they serve.
“I’ve been in their shoes and I’ll do everything I can to make sure they are successful and make it easier to do their jobs,” he said.
Col. Carolyn Stickell, the HQ RIO commander, said Stehlik's departure is a loss for the entire organization but she is looking forward to working with Bridgemohan and the experience he brings to the table.
"Sharon is a fantastic leader and we're losing a lot of corporate knowledge as she moves on to her new position in AF/REG," said Stickell. "At the same time, I am excited to welcome Bridge to the RIO team. He comes to us from the International Engagement Program, so his unique skillset will be a huge asset to Detachment 2 and the Pacific community."