SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Fourteen civic leaders from Sumter, South Carolina, and surrounding cities joined the ranks of honorary commanders alongside squadron, group and wing commanders during a ceremony here, March 3.

Those newly inducted joined 14 continuing honorary commanders, who are beginning their second and final year in the program.

The honorary commander program gives civilian participants and their corresponding commanders the opportunity to share ideas and learn from one another as they take part in special events, programs and activities involving their assigned squadron. This allows a two-way flow of information and understanding of the Air Force, its mission and its impact on the community.

“It's hard to put a face on the Air Force,” said Rob Sexton, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs community relations manager. “We're mostly planes, bombs and missiles and that can be hard to relate to. The program enables us to embed civic leaders in every group and squadron so that they can learn about the missions of Team Shaw and the Air Force, and so our commanders and Airmen can put down roots in the community through these relationships. It is the only way civic leaders can get a ‘behind the scenes’ peek for up to two years. For our participants and the people they influence, it puts a human face on the Air Force.”

After a display from the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, participants were taken to the Carolina Skies Club and Conference Center for an induction ceremony.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, from my perspective; professionally, personally and from a community standpoint it’s been amazing,” said Dr. Michael Mikota, Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments executive director, and continuing honorary commander for the 20th Mission Support Group. “Having the opportunity to work with the 20th MSG, to find out what they do on base, it opens up the whole idea of what Shaw does, and how important it is to our community, to our state, to our nation.”

2017 20th Fighter Wing honorary commanders and assigned commands are:
Vivian Fleming McGhaney, 20th FW commander
Alfred Mae Drakeford, 20th FW vice commander
John Hoffman, 20th FW command chief
Christopher Curtis Hutto, 20th Comptroller Squadron
James T. McCain, 20th Operations Group
Debbie Nix, 20th OG vice commander
Lynn Lambert, 20th Operations Support Squadron
Kyle Kelly, 55th Fighter Squadron
Dr. Clay Lowder, 77th FS
Eric Reisenauer, 79th FS
Tom Tompkins, 20th Maintenance Group
Fred Moulton, 20th MXG vice commander
Bill Buxton, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Chris Hardy, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron
John Michalik, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Dr. Michael Mikota, 20th Mission Support Group
Thomas Gardner, 20th MSG vice commander
Lorraine Washington-Dennis, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron
Carvel Randolph Coker II, 20th Security Forces Squadron
Jack Swart, 20th Communications Squadron
Shelley Kile, 20th Force Support Squadron
Christie Richardson, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Abram Ludd, 20th Contracting Squadron
Michelle Logan Owens, 20th Medical Group
Dr. Rodney Alan, 20th Medical Operations Squadron
Jerome Robinson, 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
Melissa Linville, 20th Medical Support Squadron
David Nether, 20th Dental Squadron