TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A new class of 13 Tinker Honorary Commanders were inducted as the outgoing class graduated during the annual Honorary Commander Graduation and Induction Ceremony Jan. 30 at Midwest City’s Reed Conference Center.
Hosted by Col. Paul Filcek, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, the ceremony brought together community and state leaders alongside Tinker Air Force Base’s leadership to celebrate the accomplishments of the 13 members of the 2019 graduating class and welcome the incoming class of 2020.
“What we have at Tinker AFB is a surrounding community unlike anything I have seen in my 35 years in the Air Force,” Filcek said. “I have been to 17 assignments in those 35 years and have never been to a community quite like this. What you have is a tie between a community that cares, a patriotic community that cares about what goes on at Tinker.”
Now in its 24th year, the program pairs members of the community with key leaders from Tinker Air Force Base for one year. During this time they learn more about each other’s professional responsibilities, strengthening the relationship between Tinker and its surrounding communities.
“The Tinker Honorary Commanders program is our installation’s premier community relations program,” said Jon Stock, 72nd ABW Public Affairs director. “Since its inception back in 1996, this Honorary Commanders program has helped build essential partnerships and relationships between our senior leaders on the installation and community partners and governmental leaders.”
Over the last year, Honorary Commanders had the opportunity to tour the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, experience an aerial refueling flight with a KC-135, witness a combat immersion demonstration and participate in other activities that demonstrated the significant role that Tinker AFB plays within the Air Force.
The program’s goals include developing integral interpersonal relationships to better learn and understand how each partner’s activities impact the community and Tinker AFB. The activities provide opportunities for each of the leaders involved to learn more about the mission and professional responsibilities that Tinker’s leaders have.
Allyson Carson, membership director at Leadership Oklahoma and a 2019 Honorary Commanders graduate, described her time in the program as highly experiential and said that the program not only showed the participants what happens at Tinker, but involved them in a way that built a connection.
“What I do remember each and every time I left Tinker was a feeling of amazement and I was honored to see a glimpse of what each and every person, civilian and military, associated with Tinker does on a daily basis,” Carson said. “Bottom line: their mission is simple, yet extremely complex: Supporting the warfighter.”
Honorary Commander Program candidates are selected from a cross-section of communities, with nominations submitted through local chambers of commerce and current and former participants.
“You are all chosen for this unique honor to learn our story and go back to your communities, personal and professional circles and continue to tell the Air Force story,” Stock said.