Eglin personnel protect the presidents

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FlA. --  This is a first in a series on Eglin Airmen who supported the inauguration.

Eglin personnel worked behind the scenes to ensure the safety of the presidents during the week of the inauguration.
 
Airmen from the 96th Security Forces Squadron and the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight got up close and personal with both outgoing President George W. Bush and incoming President Barak Obama as they filled taskings that ensured their commanders-in-chiefs' security. 

When then U.S. President-elect Barack Obama visited Baltimore, Md., as the last stop of his train tour before arriving at Washington D.C. for the inauguration, Staff Sgt. Michael Espinoza, was there. A military working dog handler, Sergeant Espinoza and his dog Jimmy were one of 29 dog handlers to team up with EOD personnel at the War Memorial Plaza. The sergeant, who left Eglin on Jan. 15, had just three days to prepare to be part of this historic event. 

According to Sergeant Espinoza, secret service tasked his team with securing buildings surrounding the square and vehicle entry control point monitoring. More than 100,000 people attended the event. 

"We were expecting to have quite a few upset people because they (Baltimore police) would only allow 30,000 inside the square," Sergeant Espinoza said. "But it went pretty smoothly." 

The sergeant, who has been a dog handler since 2003, has experience with distinguished visitors, supporting both Presidents Bush and Carter. But he was well aware of the significance of the President-elect's stop. 

"It's history--it's not every day that's going to happen," he said. "It wasn't the actual inauguration, but it was close enough." 

A few states away, the EOD team headed to Midland, Texas, where The Bush family, including former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, were arriving on Jan. 20, after the inauguration. About 20,000 people welcomed the Bushes at Centennial Plaza. 

Staff Sgts. Daniel Batt, Michael Pereira, Matthew Wilt, Michael Edwards, Senior Airman Anthony DeMarino and Airman First Class Kyle Massengale left Eglin on Jan. 19, at the request of the secret service. Divided into three teams of two, Sergeant Pereira said their responsibilities included sweeping the area where the crowds and President would be. Tech Sgt. Robert Brooking, NCOIC of the EOD Test Directives Section, worked the details to ensure the teams arrived with some tools of the trade including "good-looking clothing." 

"We arrived prior to the crowd and supported the secret service in whatever they needed," Sergeant Batt said. "It wasn't obvious to the general public who we were or what we were doing there." 

The teams just got a quick glimpse of the President through the window of his SUV but did get up close to a real celebrity, the White House dog, Miss Beasley, who was stretching her legs at the airport. 

The EOD technicians spent a full day with their presidential duties, which were a "unique experience" for the heavily deployed team. It was the first time Airman Massengale had a chance to protect a president, although he was involved when former Vice President Dick Cheney visited Fort Walton Beach in the fall. 

"It was a moment in history," said Sergeant Pereira concluded.