MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Sgt. Maj. Thomas H. Howard assumed the duties as the Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony at Airfield Operations here April 23.

Howard replaced Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Spruel, who retired after 30 years of military service. Howard was previously assigned as the 4th Force Service Support Group sergeant major in New Orleans.

"Over the last four days, I have had the chance to go around with Sergeant Major Spruel to see everything that there is to see," Howard said during the ceremony. "All I have to do is keep the train running with the boat floating in the right direction."

Before concluding his speech, Howard turned to the Marines from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Stations Yuma and Miramar lined up in formation behind him to tell them what he wanted them to do.

"Follow me," he said.

The Canton, Ohio, native joined the Marine Corps in April 1977.  Upon completion of recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., he attended Aviation Maintenance Structures School at Naval Air Station, Millington, Tenn.

His first assignment as a sergeant major was with Recruiting Station Springfield, Mass., where he was assigned as the Recruiting Station sergeant major from December 1996 until August 1999. He was reassigned in August to RS Cleveland, 4th Marine Corps District, and later assigned to the 1st Marine Corps District as the district sergeant major from September 2000 until May 2002.

Howard began his first duty assignment as an aviation structures mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (detachment), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton.  While assigned to HMLA-267, he had two meritorious promotions to corporal and sergeant.

In February 1984, Howard attended Drill Instructor School as a staff sergeant at MCRD Parris Island then was assigned to 1st Recruit Training Battalion.  In October 1985, while serving as senior drill instructor, he was meritoriously promoted to gunnery sergeant. 

Some of his other assignments included flightline/quality assurance staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Marine Aircraft Group Detachment A, Naval Air Station, South Weymouth, Mass.; rifle range SNCOIC and chief marksmanship instructor, MCRD Parris Island; first sergeant, weapons company, 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and first sergeant of Instructor/Inspector Staff, in Columbus, Ohio.

Howard's personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star and the Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars.