Team Kirtland honorary commanders installed

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Twenty-nine Albuquerque community leaders were installed for yearlong terms as "honorary commanders" of Kirtland AFB units at a ceremony Friday at the Mountain View Club.

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 Maness, commander of the 377th Air Base Wing and Kirtland AFB's installation commander.

2010-2011 Kirtland AFB honorary commanders and their military counterparts include:

· AFNWC/CC: Mr. Alex Romero, CEO/President, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

· 377th ABW/CC: Mr. John Garcia, Director, Albuquerque Economic Development Department

· 377th MSG/CC: Mr. Winston Brooks, Superintendent, Albuquerque Public Schools

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

· 377th ABW/CCC: Mr. Stan Hubbard, CEO, Reelz- Channel

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

· 498th NSW/NWA: Mr. David Tinley, Vice President, Daniels Insurance

· 58th SOW/CC: Mr. Ethan Epstein, Associate, Modrall Sperling

· 58th OG/CC: Ms. Sandra Leyba, Chief Financial Officer, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
· 58th MXG/CC: Mr. Valentin Varela, Chairman, NOMAR, Inc.

· 58th SOW/CCC: Dr. Ben Craver, Dean, Wayland Baptist University

· AFOTEC/CC: Ms. Terri Cole, President and CEO, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce

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

· AFOTEC/A3: Ms. Hollis Gillespie, Executive Director, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

· AFOTEC/A-4/7: Ms. Alison Stanley, Director of Operations for Process Excellence, Presbyterian Hospital

· AFOTEC/A1: Ms. Marie "Betty" Blea, Owner, Homes By Marie, Inc.

· AFSC/CD: Mr. Carlo Lucero, President, Sparkle Maintenance

· AFPEO/SS: Mr. Bill Miera, CEO, Fiore Industries

· AFIA/CC: Ms. Julia Miera, Vice President of Marketing, Clear Channel Outdoor in New Mexico

· SDTW/CC: Mr. Dave Seely, President, Kirtland Federal Credit Union

· SDSG/CC: Mr. Louis Herrera, President, Sisttemex, Inc.

· SDTG/CC: Ms. Eloise Gift, Gift Realty New Mexico

· AFRL/RD: Ms. Hilary Noskin, Attorney, Peacock Myers

· AFRL/RV: Ms. Marla Wood, Office of the President, University of New Mexico

· MDA/AL: Mr. Steve Paternoster, Owner, Scalo Northern Italian Grill

· 505 DWG/CC: Mr. Dale Dekker, Dekker, Perich and Sabatini

· ORS: Ms. Cindy Adams, Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross

· DTRA: Mr. Jerry Geist, Santa Fe Center Enterprises

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