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Twentieth Air Force commander visits Warren

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Stacey Fenton
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO. --  The 20th Air Force Commander visited Warren on Oct. 21 to see for himself how Air Force Global Strike Command's mission is being executed in different squadrons.

Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, 20th AF commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tammy Elliott, 20th AF command chief, first visited a Facility Maintenance Team preparing for dispatch to the missile field, followed by the wing quarterly awards breakfast, and then spent the morning visiting the missile handling and transfer facility, the gravel road trainer, the vehicle maintenance building, the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron's snow barn and the Child Development Center.

General Alston, Chief Elliott and their spouses had lunch with the squadron commanders at the Chadwell Dining Facility, and then General Alston and Chief Elliott used the afternoon to make unannounced visits to several units, including contracting.

Mrs. Ana Alston took her own tour of the base. Her visit included the Airman's Attic, the dorms and the 90th Medical Group. She also attended lunch at the Chadwell Dining Facility and visited the Arts and Crafts Center.

During his visit to the gravel road training course, General Alston had the chance to follow behind the heavy gravel road truck, driven by Dave Clark, 90th Missile Wing Safety, as it went through the course. Chief Elliott had the chance to drive the wing's skid car, which is used to train personnel how to handle a vehicle during inclement weather.

When he arrived at the course, General Alston commended the safety staff for Warren's recent achievement of being the only wing in 20th AF to go rollover free for an entire year.
"It's no accident the wing has gone more than 570 days without any rollovers," the general said.

General Alston then made his way to the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance building and the 90th CES snow barn, where he was enthusiastic about the equipment, facilities, and above all the knowledge of the members of these squadrons.

The general commented that he was hard-pressed to find anything these squadrons could not accomplish.

Next General Alston took a tour of the Child Development Center, where he was excited about the security and professionalism that goes into creating a safe and inviting environment for Warren's children.

At lunch with the squadron commanders, General Alston emphasized the importance of family to the mission here at Warren.

"In addition to all the responsibility we give you to take care of your Airmen, we also give you responsibility to take care of their families," the general reminded the squadron commanders. General Alston also highlighted the number one priority is the nuclear mission.

After lunch, General Alston and Chief Elliott went on their own unescorted tour of other units on base.

"I wanted to catch folks in the workplace and not have them at parade rest when I do it," the general explained.

One unit they visited was the 90th Contracting Squadron.

"We wanted to see, if at shop level, they understood the Air Force's number one priority--continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise," Chief Elliott said.
General Alston toured every floor of the squadron and as he shook hands with each member, he reminded them of the importance of their job.

"Despite how portable your skills are, you are a vital part of the 90 MW mission that is crucial to our national security," he said.

General Alston will go to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in the coming weeks as a part of his quarterly visits to each of the three missile wings.