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505th Command and Control Wing News

Wing welcomes local benefactor as honorary commander

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 505th Command and Control Wing welcomed local restaurateur Tom Rice as its new honorary commander Nov. 12.

The retired Army first sergeant and owner of Magnolia Grill has been serving U.S. warfighters for years through his philanthropic endeavors, and looks forward to the new position.

"Once a first sergeant, always a first sergeant," said the Fort Walton Beach native. "You've got to take care of the troops."

The honorary commanders program builds relationships between the wing and community leaders. During the yearlong program, Mr. Rice will be invited to participate in wing functions to gain a better understanding of the wing and how it supports today's warfighter.

Col. Edward McKinzie, 505th CCW commander, embraced its newest member to the post.

"Mr. Rice is the perfect choice for wing honorary commander," said Colonel McKinzie. "He is extremely involved in the community and has shown strong support for the local military. I look forward to a great relationship with Mr. Rice."

Colonel McKinzie briefed Mr. Rice on the wing's mission, introduced him to the wing's commanders during a staff meeting, and presented him with a wing golf shirt, certificate, pin, mug and a commander's coin.

Mr. Rice came away with a new understanding of the wing.
"I'm amazed at how far we've come since Desert Storm and how much you do for the warfighter," he said.

Mr. Rice is a board member of Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, Emerald Coast Honor Flight, and sits on the U.S. military academies appointment board for Florida Senator George LeMieux and Congressman Jeff Miller.

Mr. Rice said he looks forward to the coming year with the wing, and that even though he is an Army veteran, he is grateful to the men and women of the Air Force.

"There was no sweeter sound than the drone of the transport planes coming to pick us up in the middle of nowhere," he said of his last deployment as a Reservist during Desert Storm. "I appreciate all that you do."

Mr. Rice joins two other honorary commanders in the wing; Chris Beam, honorary commander for the 605th Test and Evaluation Squadron, and Chris Dunkeson, honorary commander for the 505th Distributed Warfare Group at Kirtland Air Force Base.

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Wing welcomes local benefactor as honorary commander

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 505th Command and Control Wing welcomed local restaurateur Tom Rice as its new honorary commander Nov. 12.

The retired Army first sergeant and owner of Magnolia Grill has been serving U.S. warfighters for years through his philanthropic endeavors, and looks forward to the new position.

"Once a first sergeant, always a first sergeant," said the Fort Walton Beach native. "You've got to take care of the troops."

The honorary commanders program builds relationships between the wing and community leaders. During the yearlong program, Mr. Rice will be invited to participate in wing functions to gain a better understanding of the wing and how it supports today's warfighter.

Col. Edward McKinzie, 505th CCW commander, embraced its newest member to the post.

"Mr. Rice is the perfect choice for wing honorary commander," said Colonel McKinzie. "He is extremely involved in the community and has shown strong support for the local military. I look forward to a great relationship with Mr. Rice."

Colonel McKinzie briefed Mr. Rice on the wing's mission, introduced him to the wing's commanders during a staff meeting, and presented him with a wing golf shirt, certificate, pin, mug and a commander's coin.

Mr. Rice came away with a new understanding of the wing.
"I'm amazed at how far we've come since Desert Storm and how much you do for the warfighter," he said.

Mr. Rice is a board member of Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, Emerald Coast Honor Flight, and sits on the U.S. military academies appointment board for Florida Senator George LeMieux and Congressman Jeff Miller.

Mr. Rice said he looks forward to the coming year with the wing, and that even though he is an Army veteran, he is grateful to the men and women of the Air Force.

"There was no sweeter sound than the drone of the transport planes coming to pick us up in the middle of nowhere," he said of his last deployment as a Reservist during Desert Storm. "I appreciate all that you do."

Mr. Rice joins two other honorary commanders in the wing; Chris Beam, honorary commander for the 605th Test and Evaluation Squadron, and Chris Dunkeson, honorary commander for the 505th Distributed Warfare Group at Kirtland Air Force Base.