SAN ANGELO, TX — Goodfellow Air Force Base held a ceremony Thursday to welcome the third class into its Honorary Commander program, while graduating its second class.
The program gives emerging leaders in the San Angelo community a chance to learn more about the base, the Air Force, the Department of Defense and the training mission at Goodfellow.
Colonel Angelina Maguinness described it Thursday as a “bridge between the community and the base.”
There are 17 individuals selected — for the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow — that participate in a series of group immersions, military events and social activities.
One of the graduating members was Pam Callan, provost at Howard College, who said it gave her a new appreciation for everything that goes on at the base.
“It was fun, it was interesting, it was motivating. It was a wonderful experience, and I recommend it to anyone who is able to go through this program,” Callan said.
“I think the thing that really touched me the most was listening to the commanders and the soldiers, and just everything they do. I love the respect they have for America and for each other. … It makes you proud of your military and proud to be a community member and have this military base here.”
Callan said her favorite immersion group was training at the fire academy. Her most embarrassing moment was accidentally shooting the ceiling with a paintball gun.
Maguinness said five other training wings have similar programs in the works, inspired by the success of the program at Goodfellow.
The Honorary Commanders are selected through an annual application process. To learn more about the program, click here.
The members of the 2024-25 class are and their organizations are:
- Emily Almaguer, Goodyear Proving Grounds
- Jeremy Bartz, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce
- Mark Clark, 1st Community Federal Credit Union
- Kamryn Cummings, United Way
- Thomas Daniel, Tom Green County
- Jennifer Denson, Shannon Medical Center
- Wanda Green, Tom Green County
- Stephanie Hamby, Galilee CDC
- Kelli Hanna, Veribest ISD
- Taylor Harrison, West Texas Periodontics & Dental Implants
- James Cooper Hogg, Lower Colorado River Authority
- Morgan Janca, Children’s Advocacy Center
- Pete Madrid, City of San Angelo
- Andrea Markee, Media Advantage
- Sandra Mohr, Angelo State University
- Shannon Schwartz, San Angelo ISD
- Shane Taiclet, Howard College
The members of the graduating class are:
- Kylon Atteberry, Market Street - United Grocers
- Janis Baucom, Walls and Windows
- Patrick Brody, City of San Angelo Fire Department
- Courtney Carson, Lamar Advertising
- Pam Callan, Howard College
- Julie Efferson, Centurion Planning and Design
- Michelle Ferguson, Tom Green County
- Crystal Jansa, United Way
- MG Koenig, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce
- Seth Mayberry, Thieman Investments
- Kristy Scott, Beauty Abound Aesthetics
- CoCo Simpson, Angelo Tax Service LLC
- Karen Hesse Smith, City of San Angelo
- Nolan Sosa, Shannon Health Systems
- Vicki Terrill, Vicki Terrill Coaching
- Molly Turk, San Angelo Independent School District
- Cody M. Vasquez, Angelo State University
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