Col. Douglas Thies, the 20th Operations Group commander, communicates with his crew chief during take-off procedures before his fini-flight at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 28, 2017. Thies served as the 20th OG commander for one of the Air Force’s biggest combat F-16 wings whose mission is to prepare, employ, and sustain combat ready suppression of enemy air defenses and attack F-16 airpower. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)