301 IS welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Lt. Col. Eric Monico assumed command of the 301st Intelligence Squadron from Lt. Col Michael Smith during a change of command ceremony on at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 14, 2012.

"Lt. Col Smith, in addition to leading over 140 Airman, led over 230 sailors, soldiers and Department of Defense civilians as the Misawa Security Operations Center director of mission operations," said Col. Kimberlee Joos, 373rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group commander.

Smith is going on a one year deployment to Afghanistan.

As we close out Lt. Col. Smith's time here, we welcome Lt. Col Monico and his wife as they accept the challenge of command, said Joos. He will assume responsibility of the men and women of the 301 IS and their families and will lead the unit to new successes in the years ahead.

Monico is coming from a Data Masked Unit as the Director of Operations.

The 301 IS is the Air Force intelligence squadron at the MSOC on Security Hill. The squadron is part of the 373 ISRG, which is the DoD host service organization and primary force provider for MSOC. Its mission is to provide warfighters and strategic and national level policy makers with actionable and time-critical intelligence.