Nellis leadership hosts Honorary Commander Induction Ceremony Published Aug. 13, 2014 By Senior Airman Jason Couillard 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis leadership hosted an Honorary Commander Induction Ceremony here Aug. 7, 2014. Twelve new honorary commanders were inducted into the program. According to Col. Richard Boutwell, 99th Air Base Wing commander, public trust and community support are the key to a strong military structure. The goal of the honorary commander program is to acquaint community leaders with the Air Force missions at Nellis, Creech and the Nevada Test and Training Range. During the two-year term, each honorary commander will be invited to various events. These events allow HC's to meet many installation leaders and Airmen and witness firsthand their missions and daily operations. "Our hope is after two years of serving as an honorary commander, you'll go out to your communities and let them know the things that you've learned about our mission," Boutwell said, during his opening remarks for the induction ceremony. Unit commanders select participants based on their position or influence in the community and their ability to have a positive impact on public support for the U.S. Air Force and the Nellis, Creech and NTTR missions. "We look forward to continuing the education you teach us about the local area, and what is happening in the valley, on the range, and what we teach you about the Air Force. All of that is extremely important to us," said Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander. The Honorary Commander Program serves as an opportunity to provide one-on-one opportunities to inform and educate local community leaders about the missions of the U.S. Air Force, Nellis, Creech and the Nevada Test and Training Range. For more information about the Honorary Commanders program, please call the 99th ABW Public Affairs office civic outreach section at 702-652-9839.
