Stimac assumes command of 3rd Maintenance Group

  • Published
  • By David Bedard
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Air Force Col. David R. Stimac assumed command of 3rd Maintenance Group, 3rd Wing, in a change-of-command ceremony, July 7, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Heritage Park, relieving Air Force Col. Jerry L. Johnson who served as the commander since June 2009.

Air Force Col. Jack McMullen, 3rd Wing commander, presided at the ceremony and completed the change of command when he handed the 3rd MXG colors to Stimac.
According to Johnson's Legion of Merit award citation - which was presented during the ceremony - he led 3rd Wing's F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and E-3 Sentry response to the greatest increase of Russian aircraft incursion activity since the end of the Cold War, intercepting 26 Russian bombers approaching U.S. and Canadian airspace.

Johnson presided over the successful bed down of 40 F-22s as well as over the establishment of the wing's state-of-the-art maintenance complex which included the Air Force's only four-bay low-observable composite-repair facility.

Under Johnson's command, two squadrons were recognized in their categories as the "best maintenance squadron in the Air Force" and the 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron continued on to win the 2010 Secretary of Defense, Field Level Maintenance Award-Small Category.

Stimac most recently served as deputy director, Capabilities Integration Directorate, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force base, Mass.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1988 with a bachelor of science-business degree in management from the Air Force Academy.

Early in his career, Stimac served as acquisition officer and propulsion flight commander, before serving as 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base,
S.D.

Stimac's awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Stimac is married and the couple have a daughter.