WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The 88th Air Base Wing is swapping out its second in command.
In mid-June, Col. Charles Barkhurst will depart for Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the place he’ll change into monetary administration and comptroller director for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. He turns over the vice commander management put up to Col. Travis Pond.
Pond received’t have far to journey. He strikes to the wing after serving as Air Drive Materiel Command’s deputy director of contracting at Wright-Patterson Air Drive Base the previous 4 years.
Barkhurst, who grew to become vice commander in July 2021, is ready to be saluted at a farewell luncheon Monday within the Wright-Patt Membership.
“Now we have completed rather a lot within the two years I’ve been right here, and I really feel actually good in regards to the future,” he stated. “The workforce is robust and my alternative is superior. So far as what I’ll miss in regards to the job, it’s all the time the individuals. Now we have an important group of individuals within the 88th and I’ll miss them, in addition to my friends across the base. They’ve been a pleasure to work with.”
The 88th Air Base Wing serves as WPAFB’s host unit. It maintains all infrastructure and supplies safety, communications, medical, authorized, personnel, finance, transportation, air visitors management, climate forecasting, public affairs, and recreation and chaplain providers for greater than 115 mission companions and businesses.
Barkhurst helped steer day by day operations for a lot of of these squadrons and items. On and off base, he took half in quite a few particular occasions as a command consultant or visitor speaker.
These actions ranged from 9/11, Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances across the Miami Valley to Airman Management College graduations, WPAFB’s annual Hiring Our Heroes Profession Summit, the Little Heroes ceremony, and management custom of serving Thanksgiving and Christmas meals at Pitsenbarger Eating Facility. Barkhurst additionally attended the annual First 4 in Dayton throughout March Insanity and joined Airmen at Army Appreciation Nights hosted by the Dayton Dragons and Wright State males’s basketball workforce.
Early on because the set up continued navigating COVID-19 restrictions, he supplied stability underneath shifting operational environments between two 88 ABW commanders: then-Col. Patrick Miller and Col. Christopher Meeker. He credit each for determining safely and successfully function whereas caring for teammates and households.
“My first 12 months was very centered on COVID,” Barkhurst recalled. “Brig. Gen. Pat Miller was the proper chief for getting us via that point, and his management and focus to maintain supporting all the women and men on WPAFB actually stands out. … Col. Meeker has been the proper chief for the post-COVID world. His give attention to caring for Airmen and reopening the bottom has been superior to be part of.”
Barkhurst stated wing leaders are pursuing technological advances in mission safety, security, public affairs and facility upkeep.
“I might like to see the place the bottom sits a 12 months from now,” he added. “I believe the 88th is in a superb place proper now. We’re centered on caring for Airmen, guaranteeing world-class assist of our mission companions, and integrating higher and higher with our area people and its leaders. The long run is vivid.”
The colonel beforehand served at Ramstein from July 2009 to July 2011, finishing separate stints as funds integration chief with USAFE’s Monetary Administration Directorate and monetary administration director for third Air Drive.
“I’m wanting ahead to getting again to USAFE to assist useful resource the protection of our companions and allies in Europe and dealing to assist construct partnership capability in Africa,” he stated.
The WPAFB project additionally marked one thing of a homecoming – Barkhurst’s mom was from Dayton and each of his dad and mom grew up in Ohio.
“Between my household and my roots, Wright-Patt seems like residence. It was nice catching up with my aunts, uncles and cousins,” he stated. “The individuals of this space are so supportive of our Airmen. That makes it a particular project. Wright-Patt is only a distinctive place that until you have got been stationed right here, you actually don’t perceive all the advanced and distinctive missions that exist right here.
“Most of all, although, I’ll miss all the nice individuals I met at WPAFB and locally. The Miami Valley is a particular place. I’m very comfortable I used to be in a position to serve right here for the final two years.”
