New 19th Air Force commander tours Vance

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Team Vance hosted a visit by Maj. Gen. Mark Solo, the 19th Air Force commander, his wife, Patty, and the 19th AF command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

During his first visit to Vance as 19th Air Force commander, General Solo was briefed on the 71st Flying Training Wing's mission, toured base organizations and the new Armed Forces Reserve Center and dined with several groups of Vance Airmen and local civic leaders.

Mrs. Solo was accompanied on a tour of military housing and other quality of life facilities by Lynne Mack, Donna Balutski and Cyndi Witek, the wives of Vance senior leadership.

Chief Williams, the 19th AF command chief since this past October, met with the 71st Flying Training Wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Kenui Balutski and Chief Master Sgts. Mark Aman, 71st Mission Support Group; Jeffrey Griner, 71st Medical Group; and Andrew Ridenhower, 71st Security Forces Squadron.

General Solo and his group traveled from Randolph AFB, Texas, to Vance Tuesday morning, Nov. 30, on board a C-12 Huron.

Tuesday afternoon the 19th AF commander visited the 71st Operations Group and the five active duty flying squadrons, toured life support and attended a Wing Recognition Ceremony in the Base Auditorium.

On Tuesday evening, Nov. 30, General and Mrs. Solo joined Wing leadership and their spouses for a dinner at the Oakwood Country Club with members of the Enid community.

In attendance were: the Honorable and Mrs. John Criner, mayor of Enid; Mr. and Mrs. Mike Cooper, a Vance Partner in the Sky; Mr. and Mrs. Scott Northcutt, Air Force Association chapter president; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Shewey, Vance Partner in the Sky; Mr. and Mrs. Dan Ohnesorge, Woodring Regional Airport Manager; Mrs. and Mr. Sharon Trojan, Air Education and Training Command Commander's Group; Mary Feightner, Vance Partner in the Sky; and Mr. and Mrs. Brent Kisling, 71st FTW Honorary Commander.

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, General Solo and Chief Williams had breakfast at the Bowling Center snack bar with Col. Russ Mack, the 71st FTW commander, Chief Balutski and 13 of Vance's enlisted Airmen.

The enlisted were: Master Sgt. Erica Daniels, 71st Comptroller Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Vinnice Taylor, 33rd Flying Training Squadron; Staff Sgts. Erica Benson-McKissick, 71st FTW; Ryan Lynn, 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron; Paulo Manzo, 32nd Flying Training Squadron; Elyot Selman, 71st Medical Group; Senior Airmen Brandon Gallemore, 71st Operations Support Squadron; Steven Goldmann, 71st SFS; Megan Lunderman, 71 MDG; Cristina Valentin, 71st MDG; and Airmen 1st Class Evan Gillespie, 71st Communications Squadron; Alton Kelly, 71st CPTS; and Rickey Rivers, 3rd Fighter Training Squadron.

The general had lunch at the Collocated Club with Wing senior leadership and Team Vance members who have recently returned from deployment.

The re-deployers were: Lt. Col. Ron Nelson, 5th Flying Training Squadron; Maj. David Amato, 71st MDG; Capts. James Scyocurka, 32nd FTS; Todd Swanhart, 33rd FTS; Tech. Sgts. Leslie Franklin, 71st Force Support Squadron; Joshua Kovanda, 71st MDG; Carinae Samsel, 71st SFS; Staff Sgts. Charrissa Smith, 71st Medical Operations Squadron; Nicole Curran, 71st OSS; Aaron Haviland, 71st CS; Justin Cheeks, 71st CS; and Senior Airman William Ortiz, 71 CPTS.

General Solo and his group departed Vance Wednesday afternoon via a Vance T-1A Jayhawk for Altus AFB, Okla.