WPAFB commander hosts first in-person call since pandemic

Col. Patrick Miller and 88th Air Base Wing leadership held the first in-person commander’s call since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions two years ago to show appreciation for Airmen and recognize them for their continued hard work.

The 88 ABW and installation commander began the May 4 call by thanking personnel for attending and discussing how Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has transitioned into a different stage.

“We’ve moved into HPCON Alpha and that allows us to do a couple different things. We remain masks off and we’re able to do some gatherings in person,” Miller said. “To make that transition, we saw a lot of different things shift. There was a call for return to the workplace, not return to work, since the work never stopped.

“The mission never stopped. You kept plowing through work day in and day out over the course of two years.”

Miller brought up various AFMC Connect topics such as caring, collaborative, competent, customer-focused and professional to describe the work being done throughout the wing.

He discussed various events from the year’s first quarter such as National Volunteer Week, National Doctors Day, Ukraine and COVID-19 support.

Credit: (U.S. Air Force photo by Jaima F

Credit: (U.S. Air Force photo by Jaima F

Gregory Leingang, 88 ABW vice director, highlighted the need for personal and professional development for all Airmen and civilians. He touted classes such as the supervisor development course, understanding your individual development plan and civilian force-development opportunities to help people grow themselves.

He said Airmen and civilians at the base have been under a microscope over the last few weeks.

“A couple weeks ago, we had an event here called Leadership Dayton,” Leingang said. “This is an event where business leaders in the community had the opportunity to come here and get various mission briefs in an effort to better understand what we do. Let me tell you they were floored.”

Credit: (U.S. Air Force photo by Jaima F

Chief Master Sgt. Jason Shaffer, 88 ABW command chief, discussed readiness and the importance of “The Blueprint: Roadmap to Enlisted Force Development.”

“‘The Blueprint’ is the answers to the test,” he said. “If you’re an enlisted member wondering how to develop your career, how do I get through my career, and what do I need to learn? That’s ‘The Blueprint,’ and I encourage all of you to go look at it.”

Miller extended congratulations to quarterly award winners from different categories.

Here’s a look at the 88th Air Base Wing’s quarterly award winners and categories:

NAF Category I:

Sherri Denault – 88th Force Support Squadron

NAF Category II:

Douglas Coy – 88 FSS

NAF Category III:

Janelle Bailey – 88 FSS

Airman of the Quarter:

Senior Airman Julian Melendez – 88th Communications Group

NCO of the Quarter:

Tech. Sgt. Darrell Bowers – 88th Mission Support Group