Honorary commanders visit base for luncheon

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus Journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Wing, group, squadron and staff agency commanders came together with civilian counterparts from the neighboring community for the Honorary Commanders luncheon March 16 at the Mountain View Club.

As the room began to fill with military members and their civilian counterparts, the noise level escalated as participants eagerly got to know one another before lunch. There were many returning faces from the community to the program, but there were also several new honorary commanders joining in the partnership that focuses on closing the gap between the base and the Albuquerque community.

The Honorary Commanders Program was started in 1995 to help build and maintain a strong relationship between the base and the surrounding community. The wing commander selects honorary commanders, and military counterparts invite honorary commanders to participate in activities throughout their one-year appointment period, such as golf outings, holiday parties and change of command ceremonies.

The honorary commanders are also encouraged to invite their military counterparts to their organization's functions. The appointment period can be extended if both the civilian and military member request it; otherwise the honorary commander may be reassigned to another organization at the end of the one year period.

There are 44 honorary commanders here and 17 of them are new to the program this year.

Richard Abruzzo, the owner of Sandia Ski and Tramway and Ski Santa Fe, attended the luncheon to meet with military counterpart Capt. Marl VanWeezendonk of Detachment 1 of the 342nd Training Squadron, the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School, here. Mr. Abruzzo is taking part in the Honorary Commanders Program for the second year and is again partnered up with the 342nd TRS. He said last year he attended nearly all of the graduations that the squadron had, and participated in tours and other activities with the squadron last year. Mr. Abruzzo said that he feels the program is very beneficial for both the base and the community as a whole.

"I don't think anyone really understands what goes on here, especially as far as the PJs go. It's interesting that a state like New Mexico that is landlocked has a PJ training facility," he said.

Mr. Abruzzo has a personal connection to the Air Force and the pararescue field. His father, the late Ben Abruzzo, served in the Air Force in the 1950s, but his connection to the pararescue career field is quite unique.

Mr. Ben Abruzzo was part of a trio that went on to become the first people to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon. Before their successful flight, the three men attempted to cross the Atlantic in 1977, but were forced to bail out during a storm, landing in Icelandic waters. Mr. Richard Abruzzo, also a balloonist, said the men were rescued off the coast, but he and his family did not know until his involvement in the Honorary Commanders Program that Air Force pararescuemen were actually part of the rescue team.

He said that the rescue and the PJs' involvement has made his participation in the program even more interesting and he looks forward to the future activities and relationships the program will offer.

"The Honor Commanders Program allows us to get to know the community and the issues and concerns members of the community may have. It also gives community leaders the opportunity to learn more about Kirtland, our issues and the role we play in supporting the Air Force mission and our nation's defense," 377th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Robert E. Suminsby Jr. said.

The Honorary Commanders Program includes representatives from various career fields from education to local business owners. The program provides a consistent avenue for communication between Team Kirtland and the outlying community.