108th Wing welcomes honorary commanders to JBMDL

Photo By Senior Airman Maria Rella | Col. Mauricia Alo, 108th Medical Group commander, shares a moment with Veronica Kraft, honorary commander, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on April 21, 2022. The honorary commander program allows members of the community to become wing and squadron commanders for the year. The program builds morale, informs the community of the wing’s operations, and highlights notable state figures who deserve recognition.  

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, UNITED STATES

04.21.2022

Story by Senior Airman Maria Rella 

108th Wing

Air National Guard senior leaders welcomed five honorary commanders to the 108th Wing campus on April 21, 2022 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The honorary commander program allows members of the community to become wing and squadron commanders for a year. The program builds morale, informs the community of the wing’s operations, and highlights notable state figures who deserve recognition.

“It’s a joint base program that gives us an opportunity to connect with civic leaders, businesses, academia, and government,” said Col. Eric Guttormsen, 108th Wing Operations Group commander. “The more [the community] understands what we do, the better the environment for everyone,” said Guttormsen.

Group and squadron commanders and senior enlisted personnel from the 141st Air Refueling Squadron, 140th Cyber Operations Squadron, 204th Intelligence Squadron, 108th Mission Support Group, and 108th Medical Group led presentations detailing the wing’s contributions to the state and nation.

The honorary commanders toured the 108th Wing campus, meeting personnel and exploring facilities in each location. Airmen in the 150th Special Operations Squadron demonstrated the use of their virtual reality system, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the KC-46 aircraft. Members of the 141st ARS and 108th Maintenance Group also set up a KC-135R static display on the 108th flight line for the honorary commanders to tour. The commanders lied down in the boom pod, sat in the cockpit, and investigated the ins and outs of the aircraft.

Next, wing leaders had lunch with newly updated heritage room for lunch refreshments, where the walls are fittingly lined with artifacts of the wing’s history.

This year’s honorary commanders are Bryan Branson, Bob Healey, Veronica Kraft, John Mack, and Steven Prokop. They serve New Jersey in a variety of roles and come from diverse backgrounds.

Branson, a retired maintenance NCOIC, is the COO of the Armed Forces Heritage Museum and a dedicated Veteran’s Affairs advocate. Healy is a republican congressional candidate for New Jersey’s 3rd District and the executive co-chairman for yacht manufacturer the Viking Group. Kraft serves as the regional director of business development at Ivy Rehab Therapy. Mack is Princeton University’s director of athletics. Former 170th Air Refueling Group member Prokop retired as a senior relationship manager with Sun National Bank.

Mack, who has always appreciated the military’s contributions, found a new perspective from the program. “Getting to hear what it is that they do on a day-to-day basis and what it costs… to have full lives and then come and serve? I think that’s just amazing,” said Mack.

The program continues to be a successful and hands-on way to show the public the positive effects of the New Jersey Air National Guard.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2022
• Date Posted: 04.25.2022 09:26
• Story ID: 419060
• Location: JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US