News>Former wing/cc talks pride, heritage during Fairchild visit
Photos
Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson poses near the sign commemorating Hanson's Highway, an outdoor running track near the fitness center, during his visit to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Sept. 25, 2012. Hanson was the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander from 2005 to 2007 and returned to Fairchild to speak at the base's 2012 Air Force Ball. During his visit, the general was treated to a tour of the base by the current wing commander, Col. Brian Newberry. Hanson currently serves as the Air War College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson recalls the wing’s history as he tours the wing headquarters building with the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, Col. Brian Newberry, Sept. 25, 2012. Hanson, the wing commander at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., from 2005 to 2007, returned here to speak at the base's 2012 Air Force Ball. He is currently the Air War College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson addresses those in attendance at the 2012 Air Force Ball in Spokane, Wash., Sept. 23, 2012. In addition to serving as the ball’s guest speaker, Hanson visited with Airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base. He was also the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander from 2005-2007. The general is currently the Air War College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton)
Tech. Sgt. Chad Churchill (right) briefs Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson about water survival training during the general’s tour around Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Sept. 25, 2012. In addition to visiting Fairchild, Hanson, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander here from 2005-2007, was the guest speaker at base’s 2012 Air Force Ball. Hanson is currently the Air War College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Churchill is a survival, evasion, resistance, escape specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
10/1/2012 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- "You don't go to war without tankers."
Those were the words of Maj. Gen. Scott Hanson, a former wing commander at the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and the guest speaker at Fairchild's 2012 Air Force Ball.
The general, currently the Air War College commandant at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., returned to Fairchild Sept. 21-25. During his visit, he impressed upon Airmen the importance of their mission and the thrill of seeing his old stomping grounds.
"It felt good to come back and see what had changed and what was the same," Hanson said. "But what I really wanted to do was visit with the people here. I love meeting Airmen and felt honored to come back to speak at Fairchild's Air Force Ball."
In his speech at the ball, Hanson talked a lot about the history of the service and the importance of the "long blue line" that stretches from the days of the Army Air Corps to today.
"History gives a unit a sense of what they're really all about; we're all here because of the greats who came before us," Hanson said. "Our pioneers give us a sense of who we are as Airmen and the spirit of innovation and boldness that is the hallmark of the Air Force."
Hanson said he was excited to see all the Airmen who attended the ball, which honored the 65th anniversary of the Air Force as a separate service.
"I love this growing tradition across the Air Force of celebrating our birthday," the general said. "Airmen have a lot of pride in what they do and who they are, certainly more than when I first came in."
In addition, wing leadership treated Hanson to a tour of Fairchild, revisiting several landmarks around the base the general helped put in place during his tenure at the wing from 2005 to 2007. His first stop was Hanson's Highway across from the fitness center, the outdoor running track named in his honor.
"On my first day as the wing commander, that afternoon, I said to my office, 'Okay, let's go for a run - where's the running track?'" Hanson recalled. "They told me there wasn't one on base, so that was one of the first things that needed to change. I'm glad it's still around and Airmen not only have that track, but a new fitness center and a second running track too."
When Hanson visited the medical group building, he saw the renovations for which he secured funding. The project was completed last year.
"Fairchild is a special place and it's been great to come back here and see it in person," Hanson said. "Fairchild Airmen have always had a lot of pride in what they do. We've been at war for so long, it's all our younger Airmen know. But the spirit of Hap Arnold and Billy Mitchell is alive and well at Fairchild."
