Goodfellow Airmen, missions key to AF: AETC Leadership

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ethan Sherwood
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson, commander of Air Education and Training Command; and Chief Master Sgt. Erik Thompson, AETC command chief; visited here, Aug. 11, 2022.

Members of the 17th Training Wing are responsible for training Department of Defense firefighters, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and scientific application specialists.

Robinson and Thompson started their visit at the Norma Brown Building with a wing mission brief and learned about Goodfellow’s community partnership program.

“Goodfellow and San Angelo are one community,” said 17th TRW Community Partnership Specialist Matthew Stazenski. “When you step foot on Goodfellow you’re welcomed into the family that is the City of San Angelo.”

The command team then traveled to the student dormitories for a briefing on the current housing conditions and plans for future dorms.

They also toured the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, where members of the 312th Training Squadron briefed Robinson and Thompson on human performance integration and special instruments training, plus beginner and fire advanced fire protection training.

Also on the tour were the Forward Operating Base Sentinel’s training programs, Operation Lonestar at the 315th Training Squadron, 313th Training Squadron, 316th Training Squadron, base housing and the 17th Medical Group Ross Clinic. 

“To train, transform and empower joint and coalition warfighters is the mission of 17th Training Wing and to see them accomplishing this first-hand was an absolute honor,” Robinson said. “Members of Team Goodfellow continue to provide the foundation of airpower as they train our warriors.”

During an all-call at the Powell Event Center, Robinson and Thompson were able to share their thoughts regarding the execution of the 17th TRW mission, and the professionalism of Airmen and leaders across Goodfellow.

 “Today we witnessed just how your force generators and fire protection and ISR professionals drive decision advantage in future multi-domain operations,” Robinson said.  “I’m extremely proud of you and the role you play in ensuring that the Air Force maintains its competitive advantage.”

Each stop showcased how the Goodfellow team has been advancing training, improving infrastructure, and developing a future of resilient, joint-minded Airmen.

“This visit provided a great opportunity to showcase our premier DoD fire protection and ISR training, as well as highlight the tight-knit relationship we have with the San Angelo community,” Col. Matthew Reilman, 17th Training Wing commander, said.