931st welcomes new honorary commanders

Published Aug. 8, 2012
By 1st Lt. Zach Anderson
931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Four local community leaders were added to the ranks of the 931st Air Refueling Group Honorary Commanders during an Honorary Commander Change of Command ceremony conducted here.

The following local leaders were welcomed into the Team McConnell family as Honorary Commanders in the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group:

Mr. Joe Ontjes, Executive Director of Recruiting and Marketing for Wichita Area Technical College, will serve as the Honorary Commander to Lt. Col. Eric Vitosh, commander of the 18th Air Refueling Squadron.

Mr. Kevin Ulwelling, President of Midwest Single Source, will serve as the Honorary Commander to Maj. John Schloss, commander of the 931st Maintenance Operations Flight.

Mr. Tom Grace, Senior Vice-President of Product Development, CAMP Systems, will serve as the Honorary Commander to Lt. Col. Sherry Teague, commander of the 931st Maintenance Squadron.

Mr. Ted Barney, Vice-President, Hyspeco, Inc., will serve as the Honorary Commander to Lt. Col. Stacy Wharton, commander of the 931st Operations Support Squadron.

The base Honorary Commander Program is a joint venture between the active duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group. The program pairs local community leaders with unit commanders in order to foster strong relationships between McConnell Air Force Base and civilian leaders.

Additinally, the program gives 931st Honorary Commanders an in-depth look at the role Citizen Airmen play both at McConnell and around the world in supporting the mission of the Air Force.

"The Honorary Commander Program allows for a better understanding from our local civilian leaders as to what our Reservists contribute to the Air Force," said Col. Mark S. Larson, commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group. "At the same time, it also allows our military leaders to develop strong and lasting relationships with these local leaders. This is so important because as Reservists the vast majority of our Airmen live and work right here in the local area. I'm very excited about our new Honorary Commanders and I welcome them to the 931st family."

Honorary Commanders serve for a term of two-years, after which they graduate to alumni status and a new Honorary Commander is selected. The 931st said goodbye to two Honorary Commanders during the ceremony.

Ms. Jody Baker, Principal, Meadowlark Elementary School, ended her term as Honorary Commander of the 931st Operations Support Squadron, and Mr. Chuck Warren of Coldwell Banker Plaza Real Estate, stepped down from his position as Honorary Commander of the 18th Air Refueling Squadron. Both had served for two years as Honorary Commanders in the 931st and have graduated to alumni Honorary Commander status.