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South Texas Reserve units induct Honorary Commanders

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mark Colmenares
  • 433rd Airlift Wing

The 433rd Airlift Wing and 960th Cyberspace Wing here conducted an Honorary Commanders’ induction ceremony in San Antonio, April 2.

Eleven local business and civic leaders were inducted into the 2022 Honorary Commanders Program. The intent of the program is to foster friendship between local and military communities.

Chief Master Sgt. Troy Pearson, 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent, was the master of ceremonies for the event and said the HCP is designed to showcase Reserve Citizen Airmen to employers and civic leaders.

"This program provides influential leaders in the San Antonio and community areas an up-close and personal opportunity to observe Reserve Citizen Airmen, as they display the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do," said Pearson.

Col. Terry McClain, 433rd AW commander, delivered remarks during the banquet and afterward described how the ceremony went overall.


 

"Today was great," said McClain. "We welcomed some old friends back into the fold, we introduced some new Honorary Commanders and we're broadening our family. We're getting more people looking at what we do."

As part of the ceremony, each Honorary Commander walked on-stage to reenact a change of command ceremony using the 433rd AW flag and the 960th Cyberspace Wing guidon, in respect to the commands they were accepting.

Each individual was also presented an Air Force commander’s insignia pin to wear on their lapel.

Offering the pin represented a welcome to the wing and formally invites the Honorary Commanders into their assigned units.

Several individuals have participated in the HCP in past years and continue to be part of the 433rd AW family.

Lt. Col. Timothy Wade, 433rd AW Public Affairs chief, announced Steve Richmond, Honorary Commander alumni and local business owner, as the first 433rd AW Blue Jacket Squadron member of 2022.

The 433rd AWBJS consists of community leaders who have already served in the HCP for two or more years but wish to continue developing relationships within the 433rd AW family.

The 2022 Honorary Commanders inducted this month include:

Dave Bonney, First Command financial advisor

Tommy Calvert Jr., Bexar County Precinct 4 commissioner

Andrew Camplen, Department of Texas Headquarters state assistant adjutant

Tom Frost III, Frost Bank retired chief executive office

John Ganser, Commercial Operations Heartflow Inc. vice president

Daniel Gifford, Experimental Aircraft Association vice president

Tim Handren, City of Boerne mayor

Andrea Knight, Frost Bank assistant vice president-financial center manager

Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio mayor

Grace Uzomba, Bexar County court judge #2

Craig Veltri, Veltri Interests Inc. president