Ellsworth prepares to serve under new commander Published May 30, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Kimberly Limrick 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Col. Scott Vander Hamm assumes command of the 28th Bomb Wing from Col. Jeffry Smith in a formal change of command ceremony here June 1. Colonel Vander Hamm received his commission in 1986 through Air Force Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In 1990 he completed his Master of Arts in defense administration at Northern Michigan University. In 2000 he completed a Master of Military Studies at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va. Throughout his military career, Colonel Vander Hamm has flown, among others, the B-52G/H, B-2A and the B-1B. A command pilot with more than 4,100 flight hours, Colonel Vander Hamm was awarded with a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, an Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, a Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and a National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Star, just to name a few. Colonel Vander Hamm was most recently stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, as the 7th Operations Group commander. After two years as Ellsworth's 28th Bomb Wing commander, Colonel Smith will hand over command of the 28th Bomb Wing and prepare for his new assignment at the Pentagon.