JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- U.S. Air Force Col. Robert “Preach” McAllister, 87th Air Base Wing, recently took on the position of vice commander to provide support and take on responsibility across Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
“I'm totally excited to be a part of this wing and to learn the support side, and fight the battles to help with the joint base environment,” said McAllister. “I try to follow three L's when I start a new job: I want to listen, I want to learn; and then when I have the chance - I want to help lead.”
McAllister is no stranger to the Joint Base MDL community, having served as a KC-10 Instructor and group executive officer for the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron and 305th Operations Group, a student for ASAM at the AF Expeditionary Center, operations officer for the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, chief of safety for the 305th Air Mobility Wing, and more recently as the commander for the 78th Air Refueling Squadron. McAllister is excited to bring his experience to the role of vice commander.
“I'm a natural team builder and relationship guy,” said McAllister. “This is my fourth assignment here at Joint Base MDL. I do think the relationships that I had and my long history with the joint base will help.”
As an 18-year-old cadet at the Air Force Academy, McAllister led Bible studies with his fellow airmen, where he was given the nickname “Preach.”
“A big part of my life is my faith,” said McAllister. “I got the nickname ‘Preach’ almost 27 years ago in the summer of 1994. It followed me from the prep school at the academy into my Air Force career.”
Before joining, his medical conditions prevented him from being accepted. Through advocacy and support from his family and people around him, combined with his faith and resiliency, McAllister found his place in the Air Force.
“I try to tell people to fight the good fight. Always fight the good fight. You never know what's going to happen,” said McAllister. “I received a lot of no’s, but if God says yes, then I’ll go with that.”
Accompanied by his wife, Angie, and German shorthaired pointer, Quest, McAllister is looking forward to bringing his faith, resilience, and experience to the joint base.
“I'm excited to be here to help the airmen and the 87th Air Base Wing in whatever way I can,” said McAllister. “We’re part of a very unique wing with a long heritage. I think that everyday people should wake up and know that whether I’m a security forces defender, or a med tech, what I do makes a difference not only to Joint Base MDL but also to our nation.”