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Maj. Gen. Sharpy visits Fairchild

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Sharpy, 18th Air Force commander, visited Fairchild Air Force Base to attend the Air Force Ball as the guest speaker Sept. 18.

Sharpy, who commanded Fairchild AFB from 2007-2008, also presented an award and received a tour of the base.

Sharpy presented the Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year award to the 92nd Operation Support Squadron air traffic control members. This award is given to ATC facilities that make notable contributions to the quality, safety and emergency situations in air traffic control. With 35 KC-135 Stratotankers based at Fairchild as well as other aircraft that fly in the local airspace such as C-17 Globemaster cargo planes and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, the ATC members are in charge of monitoring all incoming and outgoing aircraft in order to prevent accidents.

Following the award presentation, base leadership took the 18th AF commander on a tour of the base. The tour consisted of a mission brief, a cake cutting ceremony for the Air Force birthday, a tour of the command post and a view of the base from the air traffic control tower. He also attended the prisoner of war/missing in action retreat ceremony here before taking part in the Air Force Ball celebration that evening.