Defender's wife named spouse of year

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Phyllis Keith
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A 377th Security Forces Squadron member's wife was named Kirtland Spouse of the Year by the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and honored at the Armed Forces
Banquet held Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.

Savannah Hewett, wife of patrolman Tech. Sgt. Frank Hewett, has been part of the unit's spouses community for eight years.

Hewett, who is from Hanover, Pennsylvania, met her husband in high school. They got married after graduation and her husband left for basic training five days later.

He has been a security member for 10 years. This is their second time being stationed at Kirtland. From June 2015 to April 2016, Hewett dedicated over 250 hours and resources to support 207 security forces members and their families.

"Key spouses keep in touch with the security forces families and do morale boosters like having deployment dinners," Hewett said.

As a key spouse, Hewett coordinated quarterly luncheons for the local chapter of the Air Force Security Forces Association, feeding over 100 guests per event. She also planned a Thanksgiving dinner for military members and their spouses.

"I've been very fortunate that I've met some awesome spouses and people in our squadron who really have it in their hearts that they want to help the community," Hewett said.

Hewett has been instrumental in developing cohesion and support between leadership and families during her stint as key spouse for the squadron.

"She's an inspiration and great role model for all spouses," said Melissa Demouy, wife of 377th Security Forces Group Commander Col. Richard Demouy.

Last month, Hewett took on a new challenge as chapter director with The Blue Star Family, a grassroots organization with services that reach more than 1.5 million military families every year. Its mission is to strengthen military families through career development, caregiving and research on military family life.

"It deals with the whole military, not just the key spouses," Hewett said.

She said her new volunteer position was a change that would help her grow because it would expand who she was able to impact.