Vance welcomes new Honorary Commanders Published Jan. 28, 2015 By 71st FTW Public Affairs 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Team Vance welcomed 19 civic leaders from Enid, Oklahoma and it's bordering counties to the 71st Flying Training Wing Honorary Commanders program Jan. 16 at the Vance Collocated Club. Military commanders are partnered with civic and business leaders in Northwest Oklahoma and serve a year-long term. The program increases public awareness and understanding of the Vance pilot training mission and the Air Force while fostering relationships between military leadership and the local community. During the ceremony, the wing's senior leadership along with each group and squadron commander took the stage to say farewell to their outgoing honorary commander and welcome the newest members. Throughout 2015 these community leaders will participate in four base tours and receive a mission brief from Col. Clark Quinn, the 71st FTW commander. They are invited to base and unit events such as ceremonies, social functions, commander's calls and graduation banquets. In turn, the honorary commanders are encouraged to invite their military commander counterpart to attend civilian and business events within the local community. The 71st FTW honorary commanders for 2015 are: · Darrell Floyd, superintendent, Enid Public Schools · William Houston, communication coordinator, Visit Enid · Eve Switzer, pediatrician, Northwest Pediatrics · Richard McKnight, of counsel, Gungoll, Jackson, Box & Devoll, P.C. · Jack Risner, lead pastor, Enid Mennonite Brethren Church · Lori Earl, service excellence manager, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center · Patricia Mitchell, executive director, 4RKids Foundation · William Burleson, senior pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church · Kelly Diane Tompkins, executive director, Main Street Enid, Inc. · Douglas da Silva, owner, Red Rock Firearms · Thomas Evans, president, Encompass Financial Services, Inc. · Connie Strurgeon-Hart, owner and operator, Chick-fil-A · Dustin Baylor, physician, Family Medicine · Ricky Wallace, sheriff, Alfalfa County · Daniel Smith, general manager, Williams Broadcasting - KOFM/KGWA · Carol Zaloudek, chair of strategic planning, Young Women's Christian Association Board of Directors · Jerry Sarver, vice president, Central National Bank · David Starks, owner, Starks Tree Care, LLC · Lorraine Legere, 1st deputy, Garfield County Clerk's Office The Honorary Commander program here has been going strong for 15 years. Vance and Enid signed a charter in January 2000 with the goal of further solidifying the relationship between the military members of Vance and the citizens of Enid. The charter pledges to foster a supportive relationship with the community, increase involvement in both military and civic endeavors and exchange ideas, experiences, and friendships between all members of the civilian and military communities. The charter was signed by the wing, group and squadron commanders and civic leaders in Enid.