HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- The 482nd Fighter Wing welcomed its newest class of honorary commanders during a Change of Command ceremony at the Falcon's Nest Club April 29 at Homestead Air Reserve Base.
The Honorary Commanders Program is an Air Force sponsored program to encourage an exchange of ideas, sharing experiences and fostering relationships between key civic leaders from the local area and Air Force leaders.
The program educates participants by allowing community leaders greater access to Air Force commanders, personnel, programs and operations. Air Force commanders and personnel likewise benefit through increased association with the community and its key leaders.
During the ceremony, each new honorary commander was presented the unit’s guidon and a lapel pin from their military counterpart and welcomed into their respective new squadron.
Col. David Castaneda, 482nd Fighter Wing commander and Col. S. James Frickel, 482nd FW vice commander, spoke on the value of a strong relationship between the community and the base.
"After two years of the pandemic, we're excited to reinvigorate our Honorary Commander Program. Our Honorary Commander's are vital to our relationship with the local community and to our mission. Building and maintaining ties with our civic leaders helps us learn and improve the way we do business while also expanding the knowledge and understanding of what we do in the community we serve," said Frickel.
The honorary commanders will serve their respective units for a term of two years before new commanders from the community are appointed.