Leadership Tampa Bay strengthens community bonds while touring MacDill

  • Published
  • By Maj. Christine Stanaback
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 927th Air Refueling Wing hosted 44 members of Leadership Tampa Bay on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. June 6, 2013.

Leadership Tampa Bay is an organization dedicated to educating and growing ambassadors through a year-long exposure to Tampa's education, arts, transportation, tourism and government sectors. Members of LTB represent Busch Gardens, Tampa Electric, the Tampa Bay Aquarium, Tampa Bay Tribune and dozens of other organizations.

The 4th annual LTB tour of the base focused on reservists of the 927th Air Refueling Wing and also covered other missions of MacDill. The tour fostered an environment of networking, education, and a better understanding of Tampa Bay's citizen Airmen.

MacDill's population includes active duty, reservists, civilians and contractors which constitutes a large part of the surrounding community and contributes $3.5 billion annually to Tampa businesses.

Col. Douglas Schwartz, 927th ARW commander, welcomed the LTB members at the Davis Conference Center. During his presentation, he emphasized the role citizen Airmen play in the Tampa Bay area.

"The Airmen of the 927th are bankers, fireman, and teachers in the community, that when called to serve, will put down the tools of their primary trade to answer their nation's call at a moment's notice," Schwartz said.

Many reservists have a civilian and a military job.

"Tours like this give civilian employers and leaders the opportunity to see the requirements placed on the reserve force to better prepare their own companies when a member of their team is called to duty," Schwartz explained.

He also emphasized a need for continued participation in the reserve force, promoting the availability of scholarships for people who would like to build two careers while serving their community and nation.

Schwartz concluded his presentation by thanking Leadership Tampa Bay for their continued partnership with the 927th ARW.

"As an ambassador and steward of our Tampa Bay community, having a working knowledge of the missions at MacDill gives us the insight needed to support the base," said Greg McLaughlin, Busch Gardens director of environment, health safety and risk.

The morning continued with a 927th ARW mission brief by Staff Sgt. Saundra Ruela, 927th ARW aircrew command and control procedures manager, an intelligence briefing by Capt. Henry Diaz, chief of intelligence training and a KC-135 Stratotanker brief by Capt. Brian Craft, chief of wing combat readiness. The briefings at Davis Conference Center ended with presentations from Robert Prucha, deputy director for public affairs, who briefed about the role of U.S. Central Command and Lt. Col. Jeff Worthington, deputy commander, joint communications support element, who informed the group about the Joint Communications Support Element.

"The Central Command presentation was great," said Melanie Lachs, Florida Aquarium of Tampa Bay senior manager of foundation relations. "It was interesting to hear about each of the commands and how the world is divided into sections consisting of separate commanders."

The group then toured a KC-135R Stratotanker. After a stop for lunch, the LTB members split into two groups, each visiting the 6th Civil Engineering Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team and the U.S. Special Operations Command parachute rigging facility to encourage small-group discussions.

"It is interesting how the military is able to coexist and coordinate between different specialties," said Julie Wills, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society executive director. "This information will aid me in looking how my own office interacts with other teams."

At EOD, Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Last, 6th CES EOD craftsman, and Senior Airman Sam Reardon, 6th CES EOD journeyman, explained the difference between their mission at home and abroad to the gathered business leaders. Their presentation on EOD's robotic tool and protective body suit gave the crowd a fascinating insight into how EOD disarm and dispose of unexploded ordnance.

Members learned what it takes to maintain high standards when packing parachutes at the parachute rigging shop from Sgt. Brian Webb, SOCOM parachute rigging NCO in-charge, and his parachute rigging team Staff Sgt. Robert Little, Sgt. Luke Allen, Sgt. Andres Santiago, Sgt. Jorge Alaniz and Sgt. Telles Klemetson.

The group came together for one last briefing from Capt. Randy Tebeest, aircraft operations center commanding officer, and Jack Parrish, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration G-IV project manager and flight meteorologist.

Leadership Tampa Bay members learned about NOAA's efforts in fisheries, oceans, and their mission as hurricane hunters.

At the end of the day, LTB members told their tour leader the visit gave them a better understanding of various operations at MacDill.

"The experience is both eye-opening and educational," said Eli Rodrigues, Jr., INROADS assistant regional director. "It makes you appreciate the service and risk our servicemen are taking to defend our country."

"The feedback from members was very positive and the visit ranked as one of their favorite days," said Maj. Zach Davidson, 63rd Air Refueling Squadron chief pilot, also a LTB Alumni.