New Commander Takes Over 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow AFB

 

SAN ANGELO, TX — Col. Matthew A. “NIMo” Norton took command of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, succeeding Col. Angelina Maguinness during a formal change of command ceremony at the Parade Field.

Presiding over the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson, Commander of Second Air Force, who praised Maguinness for her transformational leadership.

“Colonel Maguinness left this wing stronger, more resilient and with a clearer plan for the future,” Davidson said. “She led with a focus on her Airmen, the mission, and the hard calls that mattered.”

Maguinness, who is departing for a new assignment at the Pentagon, expressed gratitude for her team, family and the San Angelo community.

“Raiders, you have an outsized impact on national security,” she said. “Thank you for leaving the patch better than we found it.”

Under Maguinness's command, the wing launched a $321 million cryptologic training modernization, resolved critical infrastructure challenges at the Department of Defense Fire Academy, and expanded public-private partnerships, earning her the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster.

Col. Norton now leads a wing that trains more than 14,000 joint-service students annually in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and fire protection. In addition to Goodfellow AFB, the 17th Training Wing oversees four geographically separated units in California, Arizona, Florida and Virginia. Norton is responsible for an annual operating budget exceeding $288 million and manages assets valued at over $1.5 billion.

A Texas A&M University graduate and career intelligence officer, Norton completed the Intelligence Officers Course at Goodfellow in 2002.

His combat-decorated career includes deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve, as well as leadership roles in Joint Special Operations Command and the 480th ISR Group.

Norton previously served as Director of Intelligence, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. He served as the Senior Intelligence Officer to the AETC Commander and as the functional lead for all intelligence personnel within the command.

Addressing the formation Thursday, Norton said, “We will get back to the basics—focusing on standards, lethality and warfighting. Goodfellow graduates will be modern, ready, and prepared to defend our nation.”

He also thanked his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Montana, who were presented with roses during the ceremony.

“Without family, we are nothing,” Norton said.

The ceremony concluded with a pass in review, honors to both commanders, and the traditional first salute to Col. Norton.

As part of the ceremonial tradition, a cannon was fired at the start of the change of command at 8:17 a.m., with a second blast marking the end of the event around 9:15 a.m. 
Col. Matthew A. “NIMo” Norton took command of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, succeeding Col. Angelina McGuinness during a formal change of command ceremony at the Parade Field.

Col. Matthew A. “NIMo” Norton took command of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, succeeding Col. Angelina McGuinness during a formal change of command ceremony at the Parade Field.

Col. Matthew A. “NIMo” Norton took command of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, succeeding Col. Angelina McGuinness during a formal change of command ceremony at the Parade Field.

Col. Matthew A. “NIMo” Norton took command of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, succeeding Col. Angelina McGuinness during a formal change of command ceremony at the Parade Field.

Col. Angelina Maguinness delivers her final remarks in a change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Col. Angelina Maguinness delivers her final remarks in a change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Hundreds of airmen were in attendance for the change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Hundreds of airmen were in attendance for the change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Numerous airmen were lined up in the Parade Field during the change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Numerous airmen were lined up in the Parade Field during the change of command ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

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