Funk promoted to general officer, joins ranks of reserve senior leaders

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brooke Cortez
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  In a ceremony, Brig. Gen. Christian G. Funk, 482nd Fighter Wing commander, was officially promoted to the rank of brigadier general here April 11.

The ceremony was officiated by retired Maj. Gen. Thomas Dyches, who served as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters, and was instrumental in bringing Funk on board as a reservist when he was a detachment commander at Shaw Air Force Base, N.C., in 1996.

Dyches spoke of Funk's upbringing by dedicated parents retired Chief Warrant Officer Frederick G. Funk and his wife Betty. In his 30-year military career, Funk's father served as a U.S. Army medic, and then transitioned to become a UH-1 pilot with the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, the Army's historic Special Forces Operations Aviation unit in Vietnam.

"For those of you who have known Chris for a long time, he has excelled in his every endeavor," Dyches said. "He had the great privilege to be brought into this world by parents who loved him, nourished him, encouraged him and taught him to excel."

The promotion order was published and Funk's family joined him on stage, pinning on his general officer rank. After Funk's granddaughter stole the show while photographers documented the pinning, Dyches then administered the Oath of Appointment to Funk as part of the promotion ceremony.

During his remarks to the packed auditorium in the fitness center, Funk first thanked organizers of the event and then went on to discuss how 19 separate pieces of legislation created the oath of office military members take when assuming military duties.

"You are the first level of ensuring that excellence of supporting and defending the constitution of the United States," he said, addressing members of the wing. "Take care of each other, our base our wing and your individual units. This is our base, treat it like it is ours."

He continued on to deliver his leadership message of establishing integrity, displaying professional competence, and creating relationships.

"Take responsibility for mistakes immediately, and fix the mistake as soon as possible," he said, discussing integrity. "Establish relationships at all units, whether Reserve, Air National Guard or active duty units. As we continue to see effects of budget constraints, it's going to be more important now than ever to get to know your counterparts and call on them to create an atmosphere of sharing information."

In attendance at the ceremony was Funk's wife, Dr. Lori Funk and her mother, Mary Ann Wilson, daughter Caitlin and son-in-law Staff Sgt. Dustin Armstrong with their son Jack. His son Airman Basic Hugh Funk could not be in attendance due to Reserve duty, but his daughter-in-law Stefany Funk and granddaughters Charlotte and Eden helped make the ceremony a special event.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Funk and his family greeted members of the base and community while "Uptown Funk" by artist Bruno Mars played as the background music created a welcoming atmosphere.

Funk received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1985. He began his career as an F-16 pilot in 1987 and has served as an operational test and evaluation pilot, fighter squadron director of operations and training, operations group chief of standardization and evaluation, fighter wing weapons and tactics officer, and an operations group commander.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours and has deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Desert Fox, Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.