TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Tinker Air Force Base Honorary Commander Program welcomed its 2026 class with a brief ceremony Feb. 20.
The program, led by Col. Cisco Harris, 72nd Air Base Wing and installation commander, aims to build and maintain strong relationships between the base and the surrounding community.
The Honorary Commander Program offers a unique opportunity for community leaders to gain firsthand insight into the mission and operations of the Air Force.
For an installation like Tinker, which is steeped in heritage, this program provides a significant strategic benefit. By fostering a deeper understanding of the base's critical missions, the program creates a network of well-informed advocates.
These relationships have been instrumental in supporting major mission additions to the base over the years, a legacy of the program's predecessor, the COMSTAR Program.
“Since the first pile of dirt was moved on the land that is now Tinker Air Force Base, we have enjoyed a deep, fruitful and lasting partnership with Oklahoma and all of our surrounding communities,” Harris said. "The community partnerships fostered by this program have directly contributed to our mission's growth, ensuring Tinker remains a cornerstone of opportunity for Oklahomans for generations to come.
We are a national strategic asset, and our community partners, to include every graduate of this program, stand shoulder to shoulder with us forging the future.”
The program encourages an exchange of ideas and experiences between key leaders of the surrounding communities and the base.
Throughout their term, honorary commanders will participate in several tours and educational opportunities, providing them with a rare, first-hand look at Tinker's numerous missions and its importance to the Department of War.
The 2026 Honorary Commander inductees are:
- Representative Marilyn Stark, Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Ms. Leshia Pearson, Aerospace & Defense, Oklahoma Department of Commerce
- Mr. Olen Cook, Alliance of Economic Development
- Dr. Beth Adele, Oklahoma City University
- Ms. Courtney Franklin, Love's
- Mr. Tim Lyon, City of Midwest City
- Mr. Paul Foster, Oklahoma County Ward 3
- Dr. Erinn Oller, SSM Health
- Ms. Brittany Hussain, Leah's Hope
- Dr. Anita Poole-Endsley, Rose State College Foundation
- Ms. Robbie Squires, Cox Communications
- Ms. Brandi Buys, Choctaw Chamber of Commerce
- Ms. Kat Wiley, Oklahoma City Thunder
The inductees will join current honorary commanders to fill the 2026 class:
- Senator Julia Kirt
- Ms. Sara Lynn Sadorra
- Mr. Joshua Shultz
- Mr. Brooks Mitchell
- Mr. Nick Young
- Ms. Tina Hanna
- Ms. Tana Fitzpatrick
- Mr. John Richardson
The ceremony also recognized the contributions of the outgoing class of honorary commanders:
- Representative Tammy Townley
- Mr. Jacob Keyes
- Dr. Brayden Savage
- Mr. Alexander Gray
- Mr. Chris Wadsworth
- Ms. Edie Roodman
- Ms. LaShawn Thompson
- Dr. Amy Sparkman
- Mr. Brent Haken
- Dr. Monique Bruner
- Ms. Jessica Clayton
- Dr. Valerie Thompson