81st TRW inducts new class of honorary commanders

Local community leaders partnered up with base squadron, group, wing and Numbered Air Force commanders and command chiefs during the honorary commander induction ceremony, Feb. 26, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

The honorary commander program is a yearly partnership between base leadership and local civic leaders with similar roles or responsibilities within the community to promote strong ties between military and civilian leaders.

“Our goal is to link up key leadership with different representatives of the community,” said Lt. Col. Billy Pope, 81st Communications Squadron commander. “We want to create and keep solid ties with the community that extends both on and off base.”

Throughout the evening get-together, base commanders and their civilian counterparts discussed ways to help their respective communities grow together.

“Using the resources we have outside the gate, we want to work to increase the resiliency of our Airmen; especially those in a student capacity,” said Pope. “This is a tremendous opportunity to build that avenue and help our Airmen, most of who aren’t from here, to get out and be active.”

Despite only meeting shortly prior to the induction, Pope and his honorary commander, Chris Birch, Biloxi Shuckers sales director, already had the same ideas for military and community involvement.

“We have young professional athletes who spend 29 days a month playing ball,” Birch said. “We also want to get our guys out and away from the routine. Like most of Keesler’s Airmen, they aren’t from around here either. We want them out on the Gulf Coast to learn what the community and military are all about. We want to help the Airmen and our players grow and build character for when they make their next move.”

As the year progresses, the honorary commander program and its participants will attend events together, visit each other’s work centers and work together to create opportunities so Airmen and civilians alike can flourish.