Only a week after celebrating his first year in the role, the Air Force Materiel Command commander paid a visit to his former base here June 19.
Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., toured each of the units within his command to see first-hand specific test mission areas and learn how Team Eglin dealt with the coronavirus.
During their time with the general, the 96th Medical Group staff highlighted their drive-through urgent care center among other steps the unit took during the pandemic.
Bunch also received briefings from the Air Force Research Lab’s Munitions Directorate and the Munitions Directorate on their current projects.
Bunch praised Eglin and the command’s determination during the pandemic highlighting expeditionary efforts, innovation, testing accomplishments like the Jolly Green II and the large effort by the epidemiology clinic at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to work for 87,000 Airmen,” he said. “We’re so proud of all the Airmen across the command in how they stepped up to COVID-19 and how they perform their wartime mission every day.”
He also spoke directly about the command’s position on the civil unrest throughout the country.
“All Airmen deserve the opportunity to perform to their full potential in any environment we put them in. We cannot have them facing barriers because of their age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion,” said Bunch. “We must grow and look at what’s blocking people’s opportunities to be successful. We have to listen and talk with our Airmen to understand and come up with a plan to move forward. Then we have to take action.”
Bunch rounded out his tour here with an award presentation at the base’s emergency operations center. The general presented Randy McDaniel, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, with the Civilian Air Force Emergency Manager of the Year Award.
For his final stop, the general checked in with the 96th Operations Support Squadron to hear about Eglin’s flightline operations. He also learned about how they managed the recent fighter accidents.
For more information about Bunch’s first year and ideas on Air Force diversity, follow the links.