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Civilian leaders receive oath, become honorary commanders

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ryan Throneberry
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  More than 90 honorary commanders from the surrounding community were inducted into the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst extended family during a ceremony at the Timmermann Center here Aug. 20, 2014.

The community leaders serve a year-long term in their roles as the base's newest and returning honorary commanders.

The honorary commander program was created to provide military commanders with a means to effectively educate participants on the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines missions of the joint base. It also encourages communication between the surrounding communities and commanders by showcasing the joint base's capabilities, future leaders and the caliber of men and women serving at JB MDL.

Col. James Hodges, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander, led the community leaders in reciting an oath, resembling the military's oath of enlistment, as they were formally inducted into the program as honorary commanders. He also spoke on the significance of the title.

"The word 'honorary' denotes being conferred upon with an honor or a title, and it's usually unpaid. However, honor also signifies high respect, esteem, trust or even the need to fulfill an obligation," said Hodges. "The word 'commander' is defined as a person in authority over military members or an operation. Commanders are responsible for the care, dedication, and success of their units in their military operations."

The joint base commander then laid out his vision for how the program would benefit both the community and the joint base.

"This partnership between the base and our community is a great illustration of the tradition of partnership between the public sector and the private sector in America," said Hodges. "The military can't exist without the support of the public and the public can't have its freedoms and security defended without the military. Locally and individually, there will be synergistic effects for all and you'll likely develop some great friendships along the way, as I did with my honorary commander this past year."

More than 30 community leaders became first-term honorary commanders during this year's ceremony.

"When I heard about the program I thought it would be a great way for me to get involved within the community and I'm glad I'm now a part of it," said Brett Michener, 514th Maintenance Squadron honorary commander. "The ceremony was great and it was a privilege to meet some of my fellow honorary commanders, as well as some of the service members here."

This year's honorary commanders are as follows:

Regina Arcuri - Robbinsville, N.J.
Leah Arter - Moorestown, N.J.
Vicki Baker - Browns Mills, N.J.
Barb Borowiec - Cherry Hill, N.J.
Joshua Brown - Mount Holly, N.J.
Andrew Bulakowski - Mullica Township, N.J.
James Byrnes - Bayville, N.J.
Lynne Carbone - Bethesda, Md.
Richard Carson - Bordentown, N.J.
Carl Cherkin - Chester, Pa.
Mark Cunningham - Toms River, N.J.
Rosa Davis - Ocean, N.J.
Nancy DeVito - Point Pleasant, N.J.
Mark, Dimon - Burlington, N.J.
Deb Eckenhoff - Lumberton, N.J.
James Ewen - Medford, N.J.
Kevin Fenstermacher - Belmar, N.J.
Michael Fessler - Lumberton, N.J.
Bonnie Fitzgerald - Point Pleasant, N.J.
Mike Forcella - Ortley Beach, N.J.
Joanne Gianndrea - Sicklerville, N.J.
Micheal Giletto - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Jeremy Grunin - Toms River, N.J.
Kathleen Halbing - Toms River, N.J.
James Hall - Southampton, N.J.
Robert Hilton - Asbury Park, N.J.
John Hood - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Kristi Howell - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Ed Hutchinson - Moorestown, N.J.
Al Kernagis - Pemberton, N.J.
Jeffrey Kerstetter - Blackwood, N.J.
John Kornick - Marlton, N.J.
Jay Kruse - Burlington, N.J.
Jane Kunka - Barnegat, N.J.
Lisa Lach - Toms River, N.J.
Dana Lancellotti - Toms River, N.J.
Frank Lancellotti - Toms River, N.J.
Ron LeBlanc - Columbus, N.J.
Kenneth Malagiere - Toms River, N.J.
Jack McDonald - New Providence, N.J.
Joe McGuire - Randolph, N.J.
Brett Michener - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Rosemarie Mohr - Williamstown, N.J.
George Morris - Lumberton, N.J.
David Nicola - Seaside Park, N.J.
Emilia Novellino - Ocean Gate, N.J.
John Pagenkopf - Lumberton, N.J.
Judith Pakay - Toms River, N.J.
Sean Pastic - Swedesboro, N.J.
Helen Payne - Chesterfield, N.J.
Lori Pepenella - Barnegat, N.J.
Tina Pilot - Forked River, N.J.
Kim Pisani - Haddonfield, N.J.
Cheryl Pliskin - Mt. Laurel, N.J.
Thomas Plut - Moorestown, N.J.
Lisa Post - Medford, N.J.
Steven Prokop - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Susan Quinn - Barnegat, N.J.
Robert Rauf - Toms River, N.J.
Maryann Rivell - Delran, N.J.
Stacey Romano - Jackson, N.J.
Howie Roseman - Gladwyne, PA
Patricia Saulino - Willingboro, N.J.
Joseph Savon - Southampton, N.J.
Marni Schatz - Cherry Hill, N.J.
Christian Schlueter - Lanoka Harbor, N.J.
Gino Sciorilli - Toms River, N.J.
Donald Scipione - West Orange, N.J.
Sue Sedivec, Toms River, N.J.
June Sernak - Delanco, N.J.
Earl Siegman - Marlton, N.J.
Nicole Skala - Freehold, N.J.
Norbert Sonnie - Levittown, Pa.
George Sowa - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Chris Tafrow - Hazlet, N.J.
Judi Tapper - Atco, N.J.
Susan Thames - Southampton, N.J.
Casey Twele - Jackson, N.J.
Anthony Valenzano - Shamong, N.J.
Gary Vecchio - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Matthew Verney - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Dina Vicari - Toms River, N.J.
Renee Vidal - Mount Laurel, N.J.
Gregory Volpe - Pemberton, N.J.
Bob Wagner - Haddonfield, N.J.
Ben Waldron - Lanoka Harbor, N.J.
Jim Wallace - Medford, N.J.
Fred Wasiak - Tabernacle, N.J.
Herb Webb - Mount Holly, N.J.
Ralph Wolff - Toms River, N.J.
Michael Wysong - New Egypt, N.J.
Dana Zampella - Beachwood, N.J.
Joseph Zarzaca - Willingboro, N.J.
Matthew Zuino - Moorestown, N.J.