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Author
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Topic: Astronaut Susan Helms post-NASA career
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 26661
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-18-2006 02:19 AM
   
From Florida Today: Patrick Air Force Base's 45th Space Wing will get its first woman commander.Col. Susan Helms, a former astronaut and veteran of five space flights who served as vice commander of the 45th Space Wing until February 2005, is expected to return as commander by mid-summer. No date has been announced. "Clearly the Space Coast is a special place, and I just can't seem to stay away," Helms said in an e-mail to FLORIDA TODAY on Friday. "Having the chance to command the 45th Space Wing will be a true honor and I look forward to the opportunity to work -- once again! -- with the great people at Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA." She replaces Brig. Gen. Mark Owen, who has been commander of the 45th Space Wing since August 2004. He has been reassigned to the Pentagon, the Department of Defense announced Friday. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 26661
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-20-2008 08:50 AM
According to her U.S. Air Force biography, Brig. Gen. Susan Helms has been selected for reassignment as the Director of Plans and Policy at the headquarters of U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 26661
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-19-2010 09:58 AM
Maj. Gen. Susan J. Helms has been confirmed for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general with assignment as commander, 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic-Space), Air Force Space Command, and commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Helms replaces at Vandenberg Air Force Base Lt. Gen. Larry D. James, who will become deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.A change of command ceremony has not yet been scheduled. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1482
From: Brimfield, MA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-19-2010 11:36 AM
Wow! From a full bird Colonel to a 3 Star in four years! That's moving up the ladder in a hurry, folks. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1464
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 10-19-2010 04:13 PM
As a fellow performing musician, I can only surmise that it was her playing in Max Q that qualified her for the rapid move up the leadership ladder. |
englau
Member Posts: 94
From: tampa, florida, usa
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-24-2012 10:02 PM
I may have the opportunity in the next year to meet her and I was wondering if anyone else had had such an opportunity before. I've been following her career since I was nine years old and I'm way into college now, so it's a very humbling prospect for me. I keep rehearsing what few words I'd want to say. I was wondering what experiences or ideas all of you may have. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 2009
From: Toms River, NJ,USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-25-2013 09:03 PM
From Associated Press/Yahoo! News: Sen. Claire McCaskill is holding up the nomination of Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, tapped to serve as vice commander of the U.S. Space Command, until the Missouri Democrat gets more information about Helms' decision to overturn a jury conviction in a sexual assault case. |
AJ
Member Posts: 498
From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 04-26-2013 07:43 AM
I have always had a lot of respect and admiration for Lt. Gen. Helms. This is the first I have heard of this story and I find it troubling. Hopefully there might be some clarity to this issue in the days ahead. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2067
From: Stuart, Florida, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 04-26-2013 10:54 AM
Hopefully, and I also hope the "PC Police" don't get involved. She's nobody's fool, and wouldn't allow something as this for personal or non-correct reasons. Our military is being affected far too much by this PC nonsense. I don't disagree, it should be reviewed, but... |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 872
From: Birmingham AL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 04-26-2013 11:19 AM
It should be reviewed perhaps...By the numbers it does not appear to be a widespread problem. In the past five years there were 327 sexual assault court martial convictions in the Air Force of which only five were overturned and only 40 out of 3,713 of all offenses were overturned. Does not appear to be a widespread misuse of power. Sounds like a senator wanting her 15 minutes of news time. In at least some state courts, a judge has the power to set aside a jury conviction if he feels the case was not proven. |
AJ
Member Posts: 498
From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 04-26-2013 11:36 AM
I don't think McCaskill is doing this for publicity. I was looking into her bio and she has a long record of public service and commitment to supporting the armed forces. McCaskill hasn't said she doesn't want Helms in the job, from what I have read, but rather that she would like more info. Given the circumstances (and the increase in publicity over military sexual assault cases), I don't think that is unreasonable. Based on what I know of Helms, I don't think she would overturn the conviction without damn good reason, but it certainly sounds like a complicated/potentially controversial case so I suppose being cautious is best. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 472
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 04-26-2013 11:23 PM
This is the first case I have seen Helms make a decision. As the 45th Space Wing commander, she always deferred making decisions, pushing them off on her successor. Later, her troops didn't even bother bringing issues to her (like MSL range safety approval) knowing that she would leave it to her successor. |
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