AZ commanders meet at D-M for summit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Arizona's military leaders came to D-M March 19 to attend the biannual Arizona Commanders Summit. While here, they discussed issues that not only relate to their installations, but also to the state of Arizona and the surrounding areas.

"We have seen over the years a synergistic effect where we are able to talk with each other, address those issues, elevate issues of concern and then be able to work with the state and with our other services to answer those problems," said Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, 56th FW commander and ACS chairman.

According to the official charter, the mission of the Arizona Commanders Summit is to promulgate an environment of cooperation among all the state's military installations to better sustain military facilities, ranges and air space, and ensure the highest possible level of training operations.

"The discussions revolve around the linkages between the varying missions and issues of air space, land use, encroachment, economic impact and cultural impact that the DoD (Department of Defense) has on the state and surrounding states," said Scott Hines, 355th Fighter Wing Community Initiatives Team chief.

Col. Kent Laughbaum, 355th FW commander, talked about the relationship between Davis-Monthan, the city of Tucson and all of Southern Arizona.

"We have a tremendous relationship with the city," he said. "When our Airmen get off the plane in their desert-combat gear there is a line of Tucsonans waiting at the airport to shake their hands and you just can't put a price on that."

The Honorable Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, who was also in attendance, echoed Colonel Laughbaum's remarks about the bond between the base and the city.

"Colonel Laughbaum said D-M is my second home but it is really my first home," the mayor said. "Our relationship with the base has never been stronger."

Discussions will continue when the Arizona commanders meet again in September at another installation.

The installations represented at the summit were:

· 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base
· 161st Air Refueling Wing, Sky Harbor
· 162nd Fighter Wing, Tucson International Airport
· 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB
· 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB
· 98th Aviation Troop Command, Phoenix
· Fort Huachuca Garrison
· Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, Silverbell Army Heliport
· Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma
· Yuma Proving Ground