Fairchild welcomes Honorary Commanders Published Jan. 24, 2007 By Joe B. Wiles 92nd ARW Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- A new group of Fairchild Honorary Commanders were officially welcomed during a reception at the wing commander's residence Saturday night. Local business and civic leaders, Honorary Commanders are chosen based on their ability and willingness to carry the Fairchild story to friends and associates in the local area and beyond. Each of the Honorary Commanders is matched with a Fairchild active-duty commander. They participate in unit activities and celebrations with the intent of learning as much about the unit mission and people as possible. Honorary Commanders are paired with a Fairchild squadron that best reflects their civilian profession. For example, Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession is paired with Col. Scott Hanson, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. Dr. Stefan Humphries, medical director at St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute is matched with Lt. Col. Patrick Murray, the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. As an official sign of their joining Team Fairchild, Colonel Hanson, provided each new Honorary Commander with a 92nd ARW coin, and explained the importance of the coin in military tradition. According to legend, during World War I an American fighter pilot was shot down over "no-man's land." He used a coin with his squadron's insignia to identify himself to French soldiers intent on shooting him as a saboteur. Thereafter, members of his squadron carried their coins at all times. "With this coin, you are now ready for any contingency during your time as an Honorary Commander," said Colonel Hanson. Fairchild's Honorary Commanders program is a community outreach tool that fosters strong working relationships between local leaders and Fairchild commanders. Through educational programs and interaction with their assigned unit, Honorary Commanders gain a better understanding of Fairchild and its missions, personnel, programs and operations. "It was very cool to be in the presence of all those people at the reception Saturday night and be regarded as someone on a personal level that is worthy of such an honor," said Joelean Copeland, executive director of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce. She is the Honorary Commander assigned to Lt. Col. Eleanor Foreman, the 92nd Medical Operations Squadron commander. "I hope to live up to the expectations of the Air Force and the people at Fairchild, and to fulfill my role to let my community know about all the great things Fairchild is doing," she said. In late February, the Honorary Commanders will return as a group to be officially inducted into the program and receive an orientation flight on a KC-135 tanker and a tour of base facilities. At that time, former Honorary Commanders will be inducted into an organization called The Eagles, offering them the chance to continue interacting with the men and women of Team Fairchild. ATTENDEES: Dennis Hession, Mayor of Spokane Col. Scott M. Hanson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander Matthew Pederson, Mayor of Airway Heights Col. Lyle D. Powell, 92nd ARW vice commander Diana Wilhite, Mayor of Spokane Valley Allard Carney, 92nd ARW Director of Staff Byron Edgett, President & CEO, Spokane Federal Credit Union Maj. Timothy Dunster, 92nd Comptroller Squadron commander Anthony D. Bonanzino, President & CEO, Hollister-Stier Laboratories LLC Col. Mark Melville, 92nd Operation Group commander Tom McArthur, Communications Director, The Davenport Hotel Lt. Col. Scott L. Musser, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron commander Michael DeVleming, Spokane Valley City Council member Lt. Col. Glenn LeMasters, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron commander John Bole, President & CEO, Yokes Foods Lt. Col. Michael Gaal, 92nd Operations Support Squadron commander Matthew Gibson, Manager of Events & Booking, Spokane Public Facilities District Col. Robert Egbert, 92nd Maintenance Group commander Thomas Turner, President & CEO, ITRONIX Corporation Lt. Col. Paul R. Wood, 92nd Maintenance Group deputy commander Tim Rhodes, Convention Sales Manager, Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau Lt. Col. Matthew Mangan, 92nd Maintenance Squadron commander David Cotton, KHQ-TV anchor and reporter Lt. Col. David Yockey, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, commander Jerry Newcomb, J&J Lube owner Maj. Geoffrey Nieboer, 92nd Maintenance Operations Squadron commander Gregory Bever, Publisher, Spokane Journal of Business Col. Van Fuller, 92nd Mission Support Group commander Lt. Col. John Foden, 92nd MSG deputy commander Peter Riverso, General Manager, Northern Quest Casino Maj. Gina Humble, 92nd Services Squadron commander Roger Flint, Vice President, CH2M Hill Maj. David Stenglein, 92nd Mission Support Squadron commander Jan Bailey, Sterling Bank Branch manager Lt. Col. David Piech, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron commander Eric Meyer, Stakeholder Manager Transportation Security Administration Lt. Col. Jerry Szybist, 92nd Security Forces Squadron commander Keith Backsen, Vice President & Director of Sales, Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau Maj. Pamela Woolley, 92nd Communications Squadron commander Alfred French, Spokane City Councilman Maj. Randy Stenzel, 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron commander Keith Emberton, Assistant Federal Security Director, TSA Maj. Fred Lacey, 92nd Contracting Squadron commander Dr. John F. Hahn Jr., Physician/Anesthesiologist, Anesthesia Associates Col. Barbara Jefts, 92nd Medical Group commander Tom Fritz, CEO, Inland Northwest Health Services Lt. Col. Darrell Landreaux, 92nd Medical Support Squadron commander Dr. Stefan Humphries, Medical Director, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute Lt. Col. Patrick Murray, 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander Joelean Copeland, Executive Director, West Plains Chamber of Commerce Lt. Col. Eleanor Foreman, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron commander Barry Baker, President, Baker Construction & Development Col. Jeffrey White, 336th Training Group commander Lt. Col. J. Michael Poole, 336th TRG deputy commander Randy Ingraham, Owner, Longhorn Barbeque Lt. Col. Robert Jones, 22nd Training Squadron commander James Frackelton, Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Lt. Col. Thomas Danek, 66th Training Squadron commander Lt. Col. Anthony Taylor, 66th TRS director of operations Shawn Mayo, Chairperson, Operation Spokane Heroes Lt. Col. Gregory Coykendall, 336th Training Support Squadron commander Chud Wendle, President & Owner, Wendle Motors, Inc. Maj. Brian Bell, 36th Rescue Flight commander Daniel Zimmerer, General Manager, Red Lion River Inn Lt. Col. Seth Beaubien, 509th Weapons Squadron commander Daniel DeHaro, Owner, Outback Steakhouse Chief Master Sgt. Mark Luzader, 92nd Air Refueling Wing command chief