“Mako” returns to Homestead to share success

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Surrounded by people who'd traveled from as far away as Nebraska, a Mako pilot and commander returned March 3 to the place he credits with providing the atmosphere of possibilities and potential necessary for earning entry into flag officer ranks.

Jon R. Shasteen, who was promoted to brigadier general in a pinning ceremony here, was stationed at Homestead Air Reserve Base more than once during his career to date, most recently from August of 1987 through March 2004. While stationed here, General Shasteen's assignments included 93rd Fighter Squadron "Makos" weapons and tactics officer, squadron commander, and 482nd Fighter Wing vice commander. Maj. Gen. Allan R. Poulin, Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command (also a Mako) officiated the ceremony.

General Shasteen is currently assigned as the mobilization assistant to the director of Air and Space Operations, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., but chose to have his first star pinned on at Homestead ARB, attributing opportunities to excel afforded here as the greatest contributions to his record of accomplishment.

"These are the folks that made this happen," said General Shasteen, motioning to the Makos, support Airmen, retired officers and civilian staff that joined his family for the ceremony. "I came back because of the Mako's [and others] here today. I earned this star working in the unit program; this is what it's all about."

The general's record of accomplishment seems endless to his father, Donald E. Shasteen, who traveled here from Potomac, Md., with his wife, Susan, for the ceremony. Mr. Shasteen remembers the day it all started.

"When [the general] was in eighth grade he told his mother and me that he wanted to fly the fastest jet in the world," said Mr. Shasteen.

Explaining to their son that they may not have the financial resources to send him to the caliber of schools necessary to achieve his dream, Mr. Shasteen explained what it would take to earn acceptance into a service academy. And the rest is history.

General Shasteen not only earned acceptance into the Air Force Academy, he graduated at the top of his class in 1977, earning the opportunity to go to flight school. General Poulin added more to the list of accomplishments that led to General Shasteen's first star.

"He graduated at the top of flight school, so he got to be a fighter pilot; he graduated at the top of that school, so he was called back as an instructor," said General Poulin talking of General Shasteen, adding "..., so he..." several times more to emphasize how General Shasteen seems to continually redefine his goals as each successive one is accomplished.

General Shasteen achieved the fastest-jet goal many years ago, having flown the F-4, said General Poulin.

Mr. Shasteen seems to overflow with the pride in his son, most notably in the self-motivation and endless striving for higher goals.

"He did it all on his own. He worked hard--he always works hard--and earned everything he has," the general's father said.

Col. Dennis Daley, 482nd Fighter Wing Mission Support Group Commander, and long-time friend of General Shasteen served as narrator for the ceremony.

"[General] Shasteen and I go back to his first days in the 93rd Fighter Squadron, where we worked and flew together for over 15 years," the colonel said. "He's a great aviator and mentor--a person you can trust with complete confidence. I've enjoyed many days in the Makos, both home and deployed with "Buick."

If personal history is a good indicator, General Shasteen may have more stars ahead of him, but that's not how he's defined his current goals. In fact, achieving the rank of flag officer seems to be taking a bit to sink in.

"This is too much. I can't believe this," he said more than once during the ceremony. As for new goals, "I'll have to get back to [everybody] on that one," he said.

"Makos" are pilots assigned to the 93rd Fighter Squadron, the F-16 flying unit assigned to the 482nd Fighter Wing at Homestead ARB. They're referred to in the present tense because of their credo: "Once a Mako, always a Mako."