KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- Brig. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander, presents the guidon to his new honorary commander Carlo Lucero, Sparkle Maintenance president, during the Honorary Commanders Assumption of Command Ceremony Aug. 19 at the Mountain View Club. (photo by Dennis Carlson)

Kirtland AFB names honorary commanders

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Twenty-one Albuquerque community leaders were recognized at the annual Honorary Commanders Assumption of Command Ceremony Aug. 19 at the Mountain View Club.

The four new honoraries were inducted as honorary commanders and six honorees were reassigned to new units.

Since 1995, honorary commanders have been matched with Kirtland AFB wing and group commanders and their equivalents.

The respective commanders brief their honorary commanders on the mission, structure and programs of their organization, and invite them to take part in quarterly activities and other events on base, such as commander's calls and social functions. Honorary commanders may then reciprocate by inviting their Team Kirtland counterparts to similar functions within their organizations.

"Our goal in the honorary commander program is to build on the strong bond Kirtland AFB already enjoys with the surrounding community by immersing these community leaders in the missions of Team Kirtland," said Col. Robert L. Maness, commander of the 377th Air Base Wing and Kirtland AFB's installation commander.

The 2011-2012 Kirtland AFB honorary commanders and their military counterparts include:

AFNWC/CC: Carlo Lucero, President, Sparkle Maintenance

377 ABW/CC: Mike Chase, Vice President, TEWSO, Science Applications International Corp

377 MSG/CC: Winston Brooks, Superintendent, Albuquerque Public Schools

377 MDG/CC: Samantha Lapin, CEO, POD, Inc.

377 ABW/CCC: Michael Riordan, Director, Department of Municipal Development, City of Albuquerque

498 NSW/CC: Chris Dunkeson, Southwest Area Director of Government Affairs, Comcast Cable Communications

58 SOW/CC: Ethan Epstein, Associate, Modrall Sperling

58 OG/CC: Sandra Leyba, Chief Financial Officer, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

58 MXG/CC: Valentin Varela, Chairman, NOMAR, Inc.

58 SOW/CCC: Eloise Gift, Gift Realty New Mexico

AFOTEC/CC: Jim Baca, Intel Corp.

AFOTEC/CV: Sang H. Kim, President/CEO, Turtle Press Corporation

AFSC/CD: Dale Dekker, Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

AFPEO/SS: Bill Miera, CEO, Fiore Industries

AFIA/CC: Steve Paternoster, Owner, Scalo Northern Italian Grill

SDTD/CC: Louis Herrera, President, Sisttemex, Inc.

AFRL/RD: Hilary Noskin, Attorney, Peacock Myers

AFRL/RV: Professor Julia Fulghum, University of New Mexico

MDA/AL: Julia Miera, Clear Channel Outdoor

DTRA: Jerry Geist, Santa Fe Center Enterprises

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Christine Glidden, Partner/President, Ornamental and Architectural Metal Fabrication.