GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Resiliency through dedication and hard work was the message delivered to the Grissom Community Council recently about the north-central Indiana base.
Col. Dwight Meese, 434th Maintenance Group commander, addressed the GCC at their general membership meeting held at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., Feb. 15.
The GCC is a civilian, non-profit organization that works in partnership with Grissom to promote programs that benefit both the base and local community.
During his presentation, Meese spoke about Grissom's strategic mission; it's importance to the local area, nation and world; and its future before opening up to a question and answer session.
"It’s been an extremely busy year with the most deployments we’ve seen since 9/11, but Grissom has remained dedicated to its history of excellence," said Meese.
The Hoosier wing was recently presented with the 2018 Fourth Air Force Raincross Trophy, by Numbered Air Force. The award was presented to the wing for its outstanding contributions to the Air Force mission.
“We do things best here, and that is evident just by looking at our tankers,” said Meese. “We have the best looking KC-135s in [Air Force Reserve Command], and that’s a testament to the type of people we have here at Grissom.”
Not only did the council learn about Grissom and its future, they also made some changes affecting their own future as they elected new officers.
While the majority of the GCC officers remained the same, there were some new additions. The following are those elected for 2019:
- President – Retired Col. Frank Faulkner
- Vice president – Grover Bishop
- Secretary – Barbara Taylor
- Treasurer - Brian Wright
- Howard County Regional Director – Dane Orbaugh
- Miami County Regional Director - Retired Col. Gary Beebe
- Cass County Regional Director – Bill Taylor
- Cass County Regional Director – Stacey Donato
- Wabash Regional Director - Hal Job
Grissom is not only home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, it also hosts three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps Reserve communications detachment.
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