Maintenance Group commander bids farewell

  • Published
  • By Col. Steven Shinkle
  • 2d Maintenance Group commander
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Colonel Steven Shinkle, 2d Maintenance Group commander, will retire from the Air Force Aug. 1 after 32 years of service to the United States of America. Before he leaves, he took some time to say good bye to the Airmen who have served with him and thank you to his family who has been by his side throughout his career ...

My priorities have always been balancing family with the Air Force. First is my family and second my Air Force career. At the top of my list is meeting and marrying my best friend Caela. She is such an incredible person. Caela brings life, energy and perspective to our family. What you have to understand is her family extends beyond our front door. It includes not only the maintenance group but the entire base and community.

Caela always has a smile and can make anyone laugh. She built a strong MXG spouse group and began the traditional MXG Children's Christmas party now in its third year just to name a couple of areas of the many she has impacted. Caela is most famous for the annual 'hug a maintainer day' where she hugs every maintainer during the annual Maintenance Awards ceremony. My guess is she has hugged more than two thousand maintainers!

Caela is the love of my life. We are very proud parents of two great sons; Ryan and Luke. Like many 'military brats' the boys have moved between different schools and had to make the best of many different situations and did so because their dad was in the Air Force. They have excelled at every opportunity. I am very proud of my sons!

As for a couple significant highlights from my career, I would have to say, putting on the uniform for the first time and reporting to work. When I made 'buck sergeant' Tech Sgt. Stevens and Major Dowd (my first boss and commander) colored my blue star to silver, handed me my noncommissioned officer certificate and bought my first membership to the NCO club--I have been a club member ever since.

Next would be receiving my officer commission, putting on the uniform and reporting to work. I received my first salute and gave the silver dollar to my very first, first sergeant who encouraged me to go to school. Being blessed with the opportunity to command at the squadron and group level and all the great Airmen maintainers I have had the privilege to work with. They have so much heart and amaze me every day with what they accomplish to ensure the mission is done guided by the Airman's Creed and Air Force Core Values.

This all culminates for me with watching jets fly and having been a part in maintaining our nations ICBMs that stand silent alert and knowing what that means to the safety and security of this nation and our friends...I love the hum that is heard when you enter a ICBM launch facility, the smell of JP-8, hydraulic fluid, and hearing the sound of eight engines winding up on takeoff--ahh the sound of freedom!

As I put the uniform on one last time on active duty, I give my last salute to all the maintainers and their families I have had the privilege to serve with. It is 'Our job to be the Best' -- the maintainers demonstrate this every day.

Colonel Shinkle has led the 2d Maintenance Group since July 2006, the culmination of three decades of service that began as an Airman basic at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1975.

The maintenance commander enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., July 31, 1975. His first job was a "702X0," administrative specialist, assigned to the 62d Headquarters Squadron Section Orderly Room at McChord Air Force Base, Wa. He attended college through off duty education leading to his acceptance into the Reserve Officer Training Corps program with Detachment 900 at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wa. Colonel Shinkle received his degree in Business Management and was commissioned a second lieutenant December 1982.

As a commissioned officer, Colonel Shinkle commanded at the flight, squadron and group level. He has served on staff as a logistics leader at Numbered Air Force and Air Force level. He executed responsibilities as a maintainer supporting ICBM, Ground Launched Cruise Missile, B-1 and B-52 weapons systems. He also served as an executive officer, protocol officer and assignments action officer at the Air Force Personnel Center.

The change of command and retirement ceremony will be held on June 2. The change of command will be at 10 a.m. where Colonel Charles Johnson will assume command of the 2d Maintenance Group. Colonel Shinkle's retirement ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Both events will take place in Hoban Hall.