Honorary commanders benefit Luke

  • Published
  • By Mary Jo May
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Uniting local community and business leaders with their military counterparts is the focus of the Luke Air Force Base Honorary Commanders program which has existed since 1999.

Since that time, more than 350 community and business leaders in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area have participated in the program.

"The honorary commanders program provides community leaders first-hand exposure to the mission, ethos and heritage of our Airmen, Luke Air Force Base, the 56th Fighter Wing, and Air Education and Training Command," said Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander. "Bringing local community leaders 'into the fold' - into our Air Force family - forges a kinship vital to the current and future success of the 56th Fighter Wing mission."

This community outreach program enhances base leadership's ability to foster relationships between local, civic and business leaders and is a mutual support effort allowing commanders and their units to learn more about the community in which they live.

"My experience with my honorary command chiefs has benefited the Airmen at Luke tremendously," said Chief Master Sgt. Randy Raper, 56th Fighter Wing command chief. "For example, Ron Sites, Valley of the Sun YMCA director, and I have been working on a program for more than a year to provide free family memberships to deployed member families during the absence of the active-duty member."

Chief Raper went on to say, "through Mr. Sites and Eric Sloan, Arizona State University state and county liaison, I've been educated on many aspects of the community at the city, county and state level. These community leaders genuinely care about 'their' Luke Airmen and families."

One or two community or corporate leaders are assigned to each of the base's squadrons, groups and select key staff agencies. New honorary commanders are inducted every two years in a ceremony. The next induction is in November.

"The exchange of information and experiences between our two organizations has been the greatest benefit," said Lt. Col. David Hillman, 56th Communications Squadron commander, about his honorary commander, James Campbell, Arizona State Qwest president.

"Looking at the challenges they work and overcome enables us to consider our own challenges from a different perspective," Colonel Hillman said. "It provides us with new ways of considering issues before us and provides my personnel with another set of tools to support the mission."

Honorary commanders are best matched with squadrons that have similar missions, backgrounds, occupations and skill sets.

For example, the 56th Security Forces Squadron honorary commanders are Ralph McLaughlin, Goodyear Police Department commander, and David Bremson, Maricopa County Sheriff's Mountain Rescue and Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association operations chief. Alumni honorary commanders are from the Glendale and Phoenix police departments.

"Through our honorary commanders, our unit members are put in touch with respective counterparts and share lessons learned, new tactics and discuss training and equipment issues," said Jerry Haupt, 56th Security Forces Squadron standardized evaluations chief. "We develop stronger ties and ongoing relationships with local law enforcement agencies. We now participate in each other's functions and events."

Mike Woodard, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Arizona and 56th Medical Support Squadron honorary commander, explained that this program has put faces and names to the men and women that "proudly serve this country and provide an inside view of who they are and what they do."

He went on to say that one of his most memorable experiences at Luke was the trip to the Barry M. Goldwater Range where he watched air-to-ground missions.

"Too many people take the base and its efforts for granted," Mr. Woodard said. "It is essential that people throughout Arizona learn and understand the importance and benefits of the base. It is equally important that businesses and community organizations support the base."

Maj. Quy Nguyen, 56th Comptroller Squadron commander, commented about his honorary commander, Robert MacGregor, Credit Union West president and chief executive officer.

"Because he is a CEO, for the first time in my career I had the opportunity to attend a shareholders' meeting and join him at the corporate headquarters for briefings on credit union operations and meet the staff," he said. "This meeting gave me insight into the financial health of the local economy which has been one of the highlights of my assignment at Luke. This would not have happened without Mr. MacGregor's openness and involvement with the base."

The most important element Pamela Meyerhoffer, former Sun Health Foundation president and CEO, said she has taken from the program is seeing the dedication and professionalism of the officers and enlisted personnel of the 56th Medical Operations Squadron "up close."

"This has reinforced my respect for the U.S. Air Force," she said.

She jokingly went on to say, "One other 'important' thing I learned is how to tell when a pilot is halfway through his conversation. It's when he says, 'Well enough about me. Now let's talk about my plane.' And I'm quoting a pilot with a sense of humor.

"My host commander included members of his squadron on a casual basis. Friendships have developed through this program.

Darcie McCracken, City of Glendale deputy city clerk, assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron prior to its deactivation and now with the 309th FS "Wild Ducks," said the best part of the experience has been the knowledge she's gained about the Air Force, 56th FW and its mission, and the relationships with people.

"I've met some awesome people and been able to interact with them so that I feel like family," Ms. McCracken said. "Knowing the importance of Luke and its impact on the West Valley allows me to be an informed supporter. Knowing the steps the base takes to ensure pilots, crews and other personnel are safe, and the steps taken to ensure the safety of the community around the base, shows that the base is as reliant upon the community as the community is on the base."

Shawn Bradford, Burgess and Niple, Inc., an architectural, planning, engineering and environmental services company, assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, said, "My commander opened the doors of his squadron by allowing me access to his staff. On numerous occasions, we discussed challenges the staff faced - both operational and budgetary. He allowed me to share my technical background, and I provided guidance in water and wastewater treatment.

"The most memorable experience I had was the day I spent at the fire station," he said. "The chief assigned me to a foam truck, and I was an active member of the crew for the entire day. I attended training sessions and was involved in numerous service calls. I felt a part of the team and was welcomed by everyone that day. This experience provided me an opportunity to see how dedicated and hardworking the firefighters are and the diverse nature of the calls they respond to."

Chief Raper concluded, "I dare say my honorary command chiefs and I interact weekly to include lunches, dinners, meetings, golf outings and an occasional evening at my house [socializing]. Bottom line, the local community now has two 'superstars' who understand completely what the honorary commander program is about. I now have two compadres I consider 'brothers,' and I know they'll give it their all in support of our Luke Airmen - it's a 'win-win' for all!"