Who is Colonel Shaffer? Published Jan. 11, 2010 By Senior Airman R. Michael Longoria 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Who is your commander? Is he a man that had a pilot's license before a driver's license, is he a golf enthusiast, or someone that is happily married with two children? Is he an Air Force Academy graduate? Well, if you are part of the 319th Air Refueling Wing then your commander is all of these things and more. Although, Col. Don Shaffer will tell you that he is just a normal guy from a small Midwest town. "I'm just a run-of-the-mill kind of guy with a stroke of good luck throughout my life," said Colonel Shaffer. The colonel was born in El Paso, Texas but claims Brookfield, Ohio, as his hometown. "My family settled in Brookfield when I was very young. My father was an Army Lieutenant Colonel and retired there" said the colonel. "It was a small community, mostly farmers and mill workers." It was in this small town that his passion for flying and the Air Force began. "I always loved flying, I think I had my first flight when I was 12." said Colonel Shaffer. "I had always been interested in the military and wanted to fly so, it was an easy decision to go to the Air Force Academy." The commander's family had a history of military service, his father and brother served in the Army, which also led to his decision. "My father's influence is a big part of the reason I've stayed in the military," said the Ohio State Buckeyes fan. As for flying, that was even easier. "On my 16th birthday, I had my mom take me to the airport so I could get my pilot's license," said the self-proclaimed wood-worker. "Most teenagers were rushing to get a driver's license but not me, I wanted to fly." All of this led him on a path to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. "I'd heard all the rumors about the weather before I got here," said Colonel Shaffer. "But I grew up in Ohio, so the snow doesn't bother me and you get use to the cold." With all the weather reports aside, the commander and his family really like the community. "It's a very friendly area," he said. "The people here really show a great appreciation for the military and the base. I'm very excited to be a part of it." And he isn't just impressed with the things he's seen outside the gate but inside the gate too. "I'm very impressed with our Airmen," he said. "Warriors of the North do an amazing job at executing our wing's mission. Nobody does it better." The commander also has big goals, short-term and long-term, for the wing. For the long-term the goal is a successful transition from KC-135s to remotely piloted aircraft. "My main short term focus is making sure our Airmen stay focused on the mission we have today - providing world-class air refueling support to the warfighter. Long term I look to build on the successful foundation we've started to ensure the installation and the wing are ready to move forward with a smooth transition to our new mission" said the colonel. He added that change is nothing new for Grand Forks AFB and that the wing has a storied history of continually changing missions. "This is nothing new for this base," said Colonel Shaffer. "Just look at all the different weapons systems in the air park at the front gate." As for the short-term, he plans to get out and meet everyone in the wing. "I'm still working on getting out and meeting everyone, seeing all of our facilities and getting involved with as much as I can," he said.