EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Across the military, bases, buildings, rooms and awards are named for people who set a standard worth memorializing. Too often, as teammates retire or PCS, the stories behind those names fade from collective memory.
One of those names at Eglin Air Force Base is Larry Kabase.
A Fort Walton Beach native, Kabase dedicated 25 years of government service to the mission and the craft of contracting, ultimately serving as chief of Special Programs Contracts in the Air-to-Air Joint Systems Program Office at Eglin. He passed away in 1998, far too young, but those who worked alongside him describe someone hard to forget.
Known for being sharp, charismatic, and genuinely people-first, Kabase helped foster a team-oriented culture built on trust, professionalism, and a commitment to taking care of Airmen and civilians. He also championed recognition for contracting professionals whose work could not be publicly discussed due to the classified nature of their mission, quiet excellence that rarely comes with visible credit.
Outside the office, Kabase was a longtime member of the Billy Bowlegs Krewe, the organization behind Fort Walton Beach’s annual pirate-themed community events and related outreach. Beyond the pageantry, the Krewe helps preserve and promote Emerald Coast history and community pride, and Kabase served in its Honor Guard, reflecting the same commitment to service he brought to the workplace.
In the years following his passing, colleagues worked to ensure his legacy would continue in a way that matched what he valued most: recognizing the unseen contracting professionals who deliver results without fanfare. Their efforts ultimately led to the Air Force’s Excellence in Classified Contracting Award being named in his honor.
Today, the name Larry Kabase represents more than a memory. It stands for leadership rooted in character, advocacy for the workforce, and a commitment to recognizing mission impact wherever it occurs, especially when it happens behind closed doors.
So, here’s to Larry Kabase, Eglin’s pirate contracting officer, and to the values he stood for: Work hard and play hard, an advocate for recognition for the quiet professionals.