BANGOR, Maine — Col. Adam Jenkins, who assumed command of the 101st Air Refueling Wing on Jan. 20, was handed the unit’s flag Saturday afternoon during an Assumption of Command ceremony.
“I am truly humbled to stand before you,” Jenkins said to the hundreds of MAINEiacs in uniform who filled the Maine Air National Guard hangar.
Brig. Gen. Douglas Farnham gave Jenkins the flag and his former job in front of the entire wing and told his successor that working with the men and women under his command made it “the most rewarding three years of my career.”
Farnham, a Brewer native, became the Maine National Guard’s adjutant general and commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management in mid-January and was promoted this week from colonel to brigadier general. He said Jenkins, 56, is “tremendously prepared” for the job. “He’ll continue a tradition of excellence.”
Brig. Gen. Gerard Bolduc, who has served as interim adjutant general since March, told Jenkins that he was envious.
“You have a wonderful opportunity to work with some very special and awesome people,” Bolduc said. “They are all standing here. I know you will command by doing things right, but more importantly, you will always do the right thing. The members of the 101st will always do their best and make you look good.”
Bolduc served three years as commander of the Maine Air National Guard.
When Jenkins got to the podium, he thanked all of his family, giving special notice to his dad, who he said was his biggest cheerleader, and wife and kids, who he described as his foundation.
He also thanked the wing’s current 950 or so members and “those who have gone before us and shown us the way.”
Jenkins is a command pilot with about 4,800 military flying hours under his belt, including when he and others on a KC-135 Stratotanker — call sign Maine 85 — were called into action on Sept. 11, 2001 when New York was attacked by terrorists.
Jenkins, who is a Hampden native who now lives in Bangor, worked his way up the ranks, serving aboard the KC-135E and KC-135R as co-pilot, aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluation pilot along the way. He also worked in maintenance, was the wing’s chief of safety, served as a squadron commander and most recently was vice commander.
He said his military career has been an incredible journey because the MAINEiacs are known for their hard work and dedication.
“Its legacy is its incredible work ethic,” Jenkins said.
“It’s something I’ve been preparing for my whole life,” he said.