96th CC wins local AFA award

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, was presented the Florida Air Force Association for the Jerry Waterman Award by the Eglin Chapter at his farewell dinner July 6.

"We wanted to recognize what Colonel McClintock has done to foster the relationship with the service organizations and get Eglin interested in joining them," said Jeff Fanto, Eglin AFA Chapter president, about the unanimous choice his committee made to pick the installation commander. "His support to the Air Force Association on the local, state and national level has been superior."

A passion for the military family and a Department of Defense-wide vision and dedicated service to the community, to the base and to our nation were highlighted in the colonel's award package.

"Colonel McClintock epitomizes what this award means, his body of work is impressive, his impact broad, he is most worthy of this recognition," said Maj. Gen. C.R. Davis, Air Armament Center commander. "He led the 96 ABW and the installation through its most challenging growth period in its 75-year history. I know of no one that could have handled these challenges as well as Bruce."

According to Mr. Fanto, the AFA award is given to an active-duty Air Force member who made the most significant contribution to the service for the past year.

"Obviously his leadership of the wing with the diverse (base) mission he is supporting fill that requirement, especially BRAC planning with the local community" said the association chapter president.

As the installation commander, Colonel McClintock is responsible for 724 square miles of land, including three airfields, known as the largest base complex in all of the Department of Defense with $42 billion in resources. He helped prepare for the most dramatic changes Eglin has seen in its 75-year history - the introduction of the Army 7th Special Forces Group and the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Training Center.

An example of wing support in the award package was the commander-led first BRAC transition road show to Fort Bragg, N.C., to ease the anxiety of more than 6,000 inbound soldiers, family members and senior leaders by providing information on housing, job opportunities and base support.

"We are fortunate we are near a base to be affiliated with (unlike other Florida chapters)," said Mr. Fanto. "Colonel McClintock came to our board meetings, brought great ideas to the table that made our chapter more efficient and focused on local issues that mattered to our local installation."

During his time at Eglin, Colonel McClintock has kept four main priorities; to communicate with all mission partners to create a synergistic and cooperative environment and create opportunities for Team Eglin members, improve the quality of life; enhance civic outreach and finally to make Eglin the premier installation for resource stewardship in all Air Force Material Command.