Davis-Monthan Air Force Base welcomes 16 new honorary commanders

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mallory Ambrose
  • 355 Wing Public Affairs

The 355th Wing inducted 16 new leaders as members of the 2024-2025 class of honorary commanders at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 31, 2024.

The Honorary Commander Program consists of 53 local civic leaders who are paired with DMAFB senior military leaders. The program deepens the bond between the base and the Tucson community and facilitates a greater awareness of DM’s mission.

“As a Tucson native, Davis-Monthan is so much a part of the fabric of our community,” said Eric Rhodes, 11th Air Task Force honorary commander. “What an amazing opportunity to connect with the Airmen and everyone on base, to make sure that Tucson is a home, even if it’s not [their home].”

Throughout the year, unit commanders invite their honorary commanders to participate in unit and wing activities, allowing the civic leaders to get to know the Airmen and how their work contributes to the mission.

“I am so impressed by the breadth and depth of experience our honorary commanders bring to our team,” said Col. Scott Mills, 355th Wing commander. “We are incredibly fortunate to have such strong support from the Tucson community and look forward to a meaningful year of partnership and connection with our honorary commanders.”

 

2024-2025 Honorary Commanders

355th Wing

Col Scott Mills, 355 WG

Mr. Jay Bickley

CMSgt Michael Becker, 355 WG

Mr. Tim Medcoff

 

355th Operations Group

Col Sean Hall, 355 OG

Mr. Doug Kacena*

Lt Col Brandon Liabenow, 357 FS

Mr. Rob Elias

Lt Col Aaron Knight, 355 OSS

Mr. Eddie O’Hair

Lt Col Rodney Dwyer, 355 TRS

Mr. Stephen Fleming

 

 

563d Rescue Group

Col Charles Redmond, 563 RQG

Mr. James Allerton

Lt Col Jaymes Hines, 55 RQS

Mr. Scott Hamblen

Maj Waseem Saed, 48 RQS

Mr. Chuck Ryan

Lt Col Maxwell Miller, 79 RQS

Dr. Kurtis Kacer

Lt Col Thomas Haney, 68 RQS

Ms. Lisa Bayless

Lt Col Paul Sheehey, 563 OSS

Ms. Courtney Dunn

 

355th Maintenance Group

Col Clarence McRae, 355 MXG

Ms. Emma Batty

Maj Stephen Weigel, 355 CMS

Mrs. Deana Smith*

Maj Benjamin Abshire, 355 EMS

Mrs. Janice Bedford-Hughes*

Maj William Freeman, 357 FGS

Mr. Steven Borozan*

Maj Timothy Wu, 355 MUNS

Mr. Steve Lynn

Maj Larry Kight, 55 RGS

Mr. Mike Candrea

Maj Sara Castano, 79 RGS

Mr. David Dean

 

355th Mission Support Group

Col Daniel Craig, 355 MSG

Ms. Shawndrea Thomas

Lt Col Sarah Bodenheimer, 355 CES

Ms. Amanda Wiggins

Maj John Newman, 355 SFS

Ms. Chelsi Remme

Maj John Runge, 355 CS

Mr. Kyle Breischaft*

Maj Rachael Ferris, 355 FSS

Mr. Rick Novosad

Lt Col Thomas Maloney, 355 CONS

Dr. Guillermo Morales

Lt Col Tabitha Zellhart, 355 LRS

Mr. Clint Mabie

 

355th Medical Group

Col Jennifer Bein, 355 MDG

Ms. Christiana Benson

Col Collin Holman, 355 OMRS

Mr. Ricardo Morales Bermudez*

Lt Col Valerie Hostetler, 355 HCOS

Mr. John Maltry

 

355th Wing Staff Agencies

Lt Col Luke Kaspari, 355 CPTS

Mr. Gabriel Trujillo

 

Air Forces Southern

Maj Gen Evan Pettus, AFSOUTH

Ms. Linda Morales

Col Matthew Vollkommer, 612 AOC

Mr. Edwin Hopper

Lt Col Dylan McDermott, 612 ACOMS

Capt. Corey Doggett

Col Matt Mckinney, 612 TOG

Mr. Bryan Hannley*

 

11th Air Task Force

Col Brett Cassidy, 11 ATF

Mr. Eric Rhodes*

Lt Col Daniel Jamerson, 11 CABS

Mr. Charles Kennedy*

 

55th Electronic Combat Group

Col Jeremy Smith, 55 ECG

Mr. Greg Wakefield

Lt Col Asif Alam, 41 ECS

Mr. JP Martin

Lt Col Thomas Draper, 42 ECS

Ms. Veronica Saiz*

Lt Col Tray Wood, 43 ECS

Mr. Edward Cornejo*

Lt Col Jon Rossman, 755 OSS

Ms. Cindi Binder

Maj Alexandra Melick, 755 AMXS

Mrs. Judy McCaleb*

 

309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group

Col Neil Aurelio, 309 AMARG

Mr. John Utz*

 

924th Fighter Group

Col Aaron Weedman, 924 FG

Mr. Jose Arias

Lt Col Thomas Harney, 47 FS

Ms. Yvette Ensign

Lt Col Meredith Morris, 924 AMXS

Mr. Jack Harris

Lt Col Meredith Morris, 924 MXS

Ms. Leah Friedenberg Corning

 

943rd Rescue Group

Maj Caleb Scherrer, 306 RQS

Mr. Anthony Schaefer

Capt Derek Fitle, 943 SFS

Mr. Nic Spallas

 

 

25th Operational Weather Squadron

Lt Col Matthew Moran, 25 OWS

Mr. Paul “Ty” Ferre

 

88th Test and Evaluation Squadron

Lt Col Adam Kawatski, 418 TES

Lainie Armienti*

 

610th Command and Control Squadron

Col Nathaniel Ott, 610 CACS

Mr. Rob Purvis*

 

University of Arizona AFROTC

Col Cory Christoffer, AFOTC Det 020

Mr. David Sirota*

*New inductees