12 AF Commander addresses Team Ellsworth

by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Imwalle
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

4/10/2015 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland, 12th Air Force Commander, visited several base units and agencies April 8, where he personally thanked Ellsworth Airmen for executing the 28th Bomb Wing's mission and serving their nation.

Nowland and Chief Master Sgt. Calvin Williams, 12th AF command chief, toured the base and focused on interacting with the Airmen across the installation helping to accomplish the mission each day.

"This visit is about the Airmen," He said. "I want to personally thank them for everything they do to support our command and our Air Force. My main objective during this visit was to meet and interact with all of the maintenance, operations and support Airmen who make the Ellsworth mission so successful."

While Nowland presented his coin to several Airmen for their dedication and work ethic, he also recognized their accomplishments as a standard to follow.

"I expect Airmen at the 28th Bomb Wing to put the mission first and execute it safely," Nowland said. "I also expect them to be good wingmen, to learn and display excellent communication skills and to be experts in what they do. The Air Force has always led the pack when it comes to technology and adaptability. It's important to maintain that edge as we grow and develop as a service."

Members of the 28th Maintenance Group, 28th Mission Support Group and the 28th Operations Group spoke with the 12th AF commander on a variety of topics to include cold spray, a technology used to repair surfaces on aircraft, the Bomb Wing's safety missions and flight operations. In addition, the 28th Medical Group demonstrated the capabilities of the Global Script Locator, a medication storage system used to dispense patient prescriptions, and an all-terrain ambulance.

Nowland later addressed Airmen at an all call in the Pride Hangar where he discussed operational and cultural excellence, mission accomplishment and execution, and the importance of taking care of our fellow Airmen.

"Taking care of our Airmen is key," Nowland explained. "We need to ensure our Airmen understand that each one of them is an important and valued member of our Air Force."

He also elaborated on the obstacles the Air Force will have to endure as it continues to face funding shortages and personnel constraints.

"We cannot allow these shortages and constraints to detract from the promises that we have made to the United States, its citizens and our allies," Nowland said. "You have my word that we will work through these challenges, and we will do it together."

The 12th AF commander thanked all Ellsworth Airmen for their unwavering dedication in supporting one another and for ensuring the 28th Bomb Wing continues to provide our nation's expeditionary combat power anywhere on the globe.