22nd Air Force commander visits Dover

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th AIrlift Wing Public Affairs
by Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

11/9/2009 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 22nd Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. James T. Rubeor, and his wife Michele, visited the 512th Airlift Wing Nov. 5-8.

They visited Dover as part of the general's commitment to visit all 22nd AF units to ensure Airmen have the necessary equipment, training and facilities needed to accomplish the mission.

Dover is a very impressive place with a strong reputation for excellence, said the general who also thanked 512th AW members for their service throughout his stay. He also coined several outstanding performers.

"As reservists, we are incredible assets to the U.S. taxpayer, but this doesn't come without personal sacrifice," said the 1978 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate during a luncheon Nov. 5 at the Landings with several Air Reserve Technicians. "You could be with your families, but you choose to come here and spend your weekend honing your combat skills and serving your nation."

This isn't the general's first time at Dover. He started his Air Force Reserve career here in 1986 as an ART with the 326th Military Airlift Squadron, so he's familiar with the challenges of being a Citizen Airman.

Tech. Sgt. Angela Kendall, 512th Mission Support Squadron installation personnel readiness manager, was one of several Airmen who attended the NCO luncheon with the general Nov. 7. During the luncheon, the 22nd AF commander spoke about several of the issues reservists face, such as employer relations, funding issues with long-term orders, ancillary training and new fitness program requirements. He also encouraged reservists to thank their families for their support.

"It was nice to receive encouragement from General Rubeor to thank our family members for their support," said Sergeant Kendall, who is married to a regular Air Force member and has a one-year-old daughter. "As ARTs and traditional reservists, we're extremely inundated with the wing's mission and can sometimes forget how supportive our families are to the mission by allowing us to do our jobs with peace of mind in our home life. Families and the support we receive from them are an important part of our military life and listening to the general express the same gratitude about them was a humbling experience."

Because families play such an important role in mission readiness, Mrs. Rubeor met with the staff at 512th Airman and Family Readiness, interacted with spouses during a Key Spouses forum, and visited the Child Development Center and Youth Center.
General and Mrs. Rubeor also visited operations, maintenance and mission support group facilities as well as the base's new air traffic control tower and the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center.

In addition to seeing base work centers, they also got to experience one of Delaware's more unique events. Several members of the Company Grade Officer's Council accompanied General and Mrs. Rubeor to the Punkin Chunkin World Championship, near Bridgeville. A total of 72 teams competed in the event, which drew more than 20,000 people, according the event's Web site. The general and his wife received a guided tour of the event and the opportunity to blast off a couple pumpkins too.

Prior to his current assignment, the general was the deputy to the chief of Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon before assuming command from Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, now the vice commander, Headquarters AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. As the commander of 22 AF, General Rubeor, manages 15 Reserve wings located in 14 states with more than 25,000 reservists and 149 unit-equipped aircraft. Twenty-second AF Reserve crews fly C-141Bs, C-130s, C-17s, C- 5A/B/Ms and KC-10As.

General Rubeor is a command pilot with more than 7,500 flying hours and has commanded the 932nd AW, Scott AFB, Ill., 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB, Calif., and 349th AMW, Travis AFB, Calif.

The general's next scheduled wing visit is to the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins ARB.