Air Guard Lt. Col. Nicholas Welly, a Potomac Falls resident, takes command of New York Air National Guard Squadron
Welly will head organization filled with air war planning experts
SYRACUSE, New York (06/07/2023) — New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Nicholas D. Welly, a Potomac Falls, Virginia took command of the 152nd Combat Operations Squadron of the 152nd Air Operations Group, in a ceremony on Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, June 3.
The 152nd Air Operations Group specializes in planning and executive air war campaigns. The group is part of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing, which is based in Syracuse.
The wing deployed Airmen to Europe in 2022 to assist in NATO air operations being conducted because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Welly replaced Col. Doreen Chemotti, a resident of Catharpin, Virginia, who has commanded the squadron since June. 5, 2022.
Welly said he was excited to follow in the footsteps of the leaders before him.
"I want to thank you for the opportunities that you gave me, all the mentoring, and the examples that you've set," Welly said. "I recognize while being in this position that I'm standing on the shoulders of giants, and I'm grateful."
Welly previously served as the 152 Combat Operations Squadron chief of strategy, as well as director of operations and chief of space and missile operations. He also served as the deputy chief of special technical operations at the Air Force's 603d Air Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
In 2022, Welly deployed to Air Forces Central Command as the Chief of Strategy Plans and led a theater-wide overhaul of the combined forces air campaign as part of operations in Iraq and the Middle East.
His previous assignments include satellite operator, weapons and tactics officer, and instructor. He also spent more than four years as a certified mission director for the National Reconnaissance Operations Center.
In his civilian capacity, he is an attorney in the CIA's Office of General Counsel advising clients on issues of national security across global space, cyber, and intelligence operations.
Media Attachments
Lt. Col. Nicholas D. Welly, right, receives the guidon of the 152nd Combat Operations Squadron from Col. Kevin St. John, the commander of the 152nd Air Operations Group during change of command ceremonies at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York on June 3, 2023. The 152nd is headquartered at the Syracuse Air Guard Base. ( U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Duane Morgan)