HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Hanscom’s installation chaplain retired from the Air Force after more than 20 years of military service during a ceremony at the chapel here June 14.
Chaplain (Maj.) William “Dave” Logan began his military career as an Army chaplain in the Montana Army National Guard in 1997. He has been at Hanscom since 2016.
“If my time here has made some impact on your life, I am grateful to have had that opportunity,” said Logan during his remarks.
Officiating the retirement ceremony was Lt. Col. Kenneth Ferland, 66th Air Base Group deputy commander.
“You catapulted our Chapel to new heights, earning kudos not only from higher headquarters, but more importantly, from those who utilized your services,” Ferland said.
He also spoke about Logan’s suicide prevention efforts as an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training instructor.
“Over his career these efforts led to over 100 documented suicide saves,” said Ferland. “You can only imagine the amount of undocumented saves.”
During his remarks, Logan spoke about his son, Zac, who took his own life when he was 20 years old.
“His loss, painful as it was, created in me a passion to prevent this tragedy of our culture,” Logan said. “It’s not rare, it’s not weird and people at risk for suicide are not crazy. They’re just in pain.”
Ferland remarked that while speaking with Logan prior to the ceremony, the chaplain noted his work with the ASIST program as his greatest career accomplishment.
Following his comments, Ferland presented Logan with the Meritorious Service Medal for “exemplary spiritual leadership and pastoral care to the members of the Hanscom Air Force Base community.”
The award also highlighted that the Hanscom Chapel team received the Robert P. Taylor Award as the command's best small chapel in 2017 and 2018.
As the installation chaplain, Logan provided worship, pastoral care, home and unit visitation and emergency ministries.
“I like to think I’ve helped some people through the grace, gifts and guidance of God,” said Logan.
Other recognition he received included a retirement certificate, presidential letter, flag folding ceremony by members of the Patriot Honor Guard and presentations from ABG leadership and chapel staff.
Logan has had assignments to bases in North Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Mississippi, North Dakota, Japan, along with deployments to the Middle East and Italy.
The chaplain is retiring to Tennessee to work on a family farm with his wife and two sons.