Reservist serves to assist commander Published Sept. 16, 2014 By Mary McHale AFNORTH Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- When the commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Region -1st Air Force, (Air Forces Northern) can use some operational assistance, that responsibility falls to what's known as the "mobilization assistant to the commander." For CONR-1st AF (AFNORTH) that person is Maj. Gen. Tommy Williams, a 32-year Air Force veteran who joined the organization in April. "My duties are primarily assist the CONR-1 AF (AFNORTH) commander with whatever the current mission needs are," Williams said. "I serve as the deputy combined forces air component commander and fill in whenever the need for a general officer arises." The mobilization assistant, who is also a commercial airline pilot outside his reserve duties, said he works with the 1st AF chief of staff to determine his duty times here, which generally run between seven and eight days a month. But he noted too that as a member of Air Force Reserve Command, he also has responsibilities to that command, such as attending meetings and sitting on boards. He began his Air Force career on active duty, entering the Air Force in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During his seven years on active duty, he was an F-15C flight lead and F-5E instructor pilot. He also has command experience having served as commander at squadron , group and wing levels. He is a command pilot with more than 3,700 hours, 200 of which are combat hours, flown during operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan. "I love the Air Force and being part of this outstanding organization," he said. "The mission is extremely important and very rewarding. To be part of it is quite fulfilling."