Base welcomes new honorary commanders

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 62nd Airlift Wing officially welcomed 24 new honorary commanders in a ceremony Tuesday morning at McChord's Clubs and Community Center. 

The ceremony served as a brief introduction to the incoming commanders about McChord and the 62nd AW's mission, as well as a farewell to the outgoing commanders. 

Several incoming honorary commanders were anxious to partake in their new duties and were excited about the prospect of fostering a relationship with the Air Force and the wing. 

The decision to serve as an honorary commander was a no-brainer, said Chip Hanauer, an International Motor Sports Hall of Fame member and veteran hydroboat racer. 

"I've never been in the military, but I'm fascinated by it," said Mr. Hanauer, who is now the honorary commander of the 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. 

While growing up around McChord and Fort Lewis, he said he would drive up and down Interstate 5 and dream about what was going on behind the gates. 

"For a guy who watches the military channel every night, this is a dream come true. It's hard for us as civilians when you know there is amazing stuff going on just 200 yards beyond the fence, but we never get a chance to feel or touch it, so this is great," Mr. Hanauer said. 

For Sandy Gregory, director of community outreach for the Seattle Seahawks, accepting the invitation to be an honorary commander means the chance to familiarize herself with something she doesn't know much about, she said. 

"[The Seahawks] do so much with the military and this is just a great opportunity for me to learn more about what the military does," said Ms. Gregory, who will represent the 62nd Contracting Squadron. 

After the ceremony, honorary commanders were given the opportunity to fly on a C-17 Globemaster III and experience an in-flight refueling, an airdrop and an aerial view of the Puget Sound area from the rear of the aircraft with the cargo door open. 

The flight provided an up-close-and-personal introduction to the 62nd AW's mission for Ms. Gregory, she said. 

"It was neat just to see how big the planes are," she said. "I really didn't know what to expect [on the flight], but watching the back of the plane open up and the parachute fly out [during the airdrop] was amazing." 

She said talking to some of the outgoing commanders and going on the flight gave her a good glimpse of what she can expect during her tenure. 

"It all sounds pretty exciting," Ms. Gregory said.