SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Twenty-seven civic leaders from across the Goldsboro and Wayne County community were inducted as honorary commanders for units on base here during a ceremony at Heritage Hall Sept. 9.
The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Honorary Commanders Program allows community partners and civic leaders to gain awareness of the base's mission and enables military members and their units to learn more about the neighboring communities.
The new honorary commanders are paired with unit commanders and senior leadership from the base.
"The program isn't about us, it's about our relationship, and it's about the community," Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, said during the ceremony. "We could not achieve our mission without the entire team, which absolutely includes the community. The community and this base should be woven together like one social fabric, taking care of our people both inside and outside."
Julie Daniels, honorary commander for the 4th FW and chairman of the base Military Affairs Committee, also addressed commanders and civic leaders during the ceremony about the opportunities of the program.
"I challenge the new honorary commanders to take advantage of this program, use this opportunity to come out and learn more about the base, and then, in turn, share that with the community, because we all know how important Seymour Johnson is," Daniels said. "Live it, learn it, and make it the best that it can be. Colonel Slocum has a lot of things in the plans for the next couple years, so we will have those opportunities to learn more and share."
During the ceremony, all the unit commanders and honorary commanders came to the stage, one by one, for an exchange of the guidon in true assumption-of-command fashion.
"What I ask now is let this be the first of many events, many engagements," Slocum said. "Get out here and get involved. I appreciate the time you're going to commit to do whatever you can. Get engaged, get to know your squadrons, and welcome to the Air Force family; welcome to Seymour Johnson."
Congratulations to the following new Seymour Johnson AFB Honorary Commanders:
Julie Daniels, 4th FW honorary commander
Dr. Scott LaFevers, 4th FW vice honorary commander
Dr. Ed Wilson, 4th FW command chief honorary commander
Scott Stevens, 916th Air Refueling Wing honorary commander
Jeremiah Daniels, 4th Operations Group honorary commander
Rick Sumner, 4th Mission Support Group honorary commander
Ben Seegars, 4th Maintenance Group honorary commander
Thomas Bradshaw, 4th Medical Group honorary commander
Ellen Bland, 4th Operations Support Squadron honorary commander
Jamie Joyner-Livengood, 333rd Fighter Squadron honorary commander
Gaston Lewis, 334th Fighter Squadron honorary commander
Henry Smith, 335th Fighter Squadron honorary commander
Dr. Sallie Mitchell-Wahl, 336th Fighter Squadron honorary commander
Mike Haney, 4th Training Squadron honorary commander
Michael Gooden, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron honorary commander
Matthew Steed, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron honorary commander
Josh McCullen, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron honorary commander
Darrell Horne, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron honorary commander
Dr. George Silver, 4th Communications Squadron honorary commander
David Leigh, 4th Comptroller Squadron honorary commander
Neal Benton, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron honorary commander
Angel Wright-Lanier, 4th Force Support Squadron honorary commander
George Wood, 4th Contracting Squadron honorary commander
James Stewart Bryan, Jr., 4th Security Forces Squadron honorary commander
Kevin Kornegay, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron honorary commander
Beverly Carroll, 4th Medical Support Squadron honorary commander
Joe Boudy, 4th Medical Operations Squadron honorary commander