Recognized for Support of Fairchild Air Force Base
The Spokane region was awarded the Abilene Trophy for its excellent community support of Fairchild Air Force Base. The annual award spotlights communities around the nation that demonstrate exceptional community support for their Base.
Shaun Martin, Vice Chairman Air Mobility, Abilene Military Affairs said, “Abilene Military Affairs is proud to award the Abilene Trophy to Greater Spokane Inc. and the Spokane community. Spokane really shined and showed exceptional support to Fairchild Air Force Base.”
This is Spokane’s 5th win, and was chosen for a multitude of outstanding support to the base, but work with the firing range certainly stood out.
“Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) and the Spokane region have a rich history and partnership with Fairchild,” said Alisha Benson, CEO of Greater Spokane Inc. “We are honored to be awarded the Abilene Trophy and continue to support Team Fairchild and its outstanding men and women in uniform and their families.”
“We thank the Spokane community for their continued support of the Base, military family caucus, and housing for airmen and their families,” said Colonel Chesley L. Dycus, Fairchild Air Force Base. “The backing the surrounding community provides to our Airmen and their families is crucial to our success. GSI and other organizations provide a peace of mind that is invaluable. Our partners in Spokane are ready and willing to fight for us, allowing Team Fairchild to turn their full focus to the ongoing, complex military operations. If Fairchild had to concentrate a force and send it overseas in to a conflict, we will have the power to get that done because of the effort this community puts forward.”
Kevin Twohig, immediate Past Forward Fairchild Chair, received Abilene Trophy recognition from Air Mobility Commander General Michael Minihan at the Airlift Tanker Association Convention Symposium in Denver. Mindi Nagy, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, presented the trophy at a recent GSI Board of Trustee meeting to Colonel Chesley L. Dycus and Chief Master Sgt. William Arcuri, accepting on behalf of Spokane and Fairchild Air Force Base.
The Spokane community previously won the Abilene Trophy in 2000, 2006, 2013, and 2017.
“We are fortunate to have one of the largest air-refueling tanker bases in the United States Air Force (FAFB) in our region, home to more than 6,000 airmen and over 60 KC-135 air refueling tankers,” said Stephanie Curran, Chair of Greater Spokane Inc.’s Forward Fairchild Committee. We are honored to support Fairchild through advocacy efforts, collaboration on Department of Defense issues, and the Honorary Commander Program among others.”
