Keesler command chief receives new assignment Published Aug. 13, 2013 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- After two years as the 81st Training Wing's command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Angie Johnson is leaving Keesler to become the command chief for Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. "This is a prestigious job and we're excited for Chief Johnson and her family," said Brig. Gen. Brad Spacy, 81st TRW commander. The chief is excited about returning to AFSPC. Before coming to Keesler, she was the command chief for the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. "The center is responsible for the research, design, development, acquisition and sustainment of satellites and the associated command and control systems," Johnson explained. "My job will be to develop and support the workforce that consists mainly of 6,000 Department of Defense civilian employees and young officers. There's a small contingent of 1,000 enlisted members assigned to Los Angeles Air Force Base." Johnson, who joined the Air Force in 1985, was promoted to the top enlisted rank six years ago. She's held many financial management leadership positions at unit and major command levels, as well as additional duties as a first sergeant and wing staff agency and directorate superintendent. In addition to assignments at Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Offutt AFB, Neb., and Vandenberg, the chief also served overseas in Japan, United Kingdom and Germany. She deployed to the Sultanate of Oman in support of Operation Southern Watch and to Manta, Ecuador, for U.S. Southern Command's counterdrug operations. Johnson's successor will be Chief Master Sgt. Farrell Thomas, who has served for the past three years as the special assistant to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force at the Pentagon. A Louisiana native, he entered the Air Force 23 years ago. His background includes various duties in personnel management at base level, major command level, the Air Force Personnel Center and numerous deployments.