New commander prepares to lead base through transition

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Col. Lester A. "JR" Weilacher assumed command of the 66th Air Base Group during a change of command ceremony May 21 at the Minuteman Commons.
 
Although just a few days on the job, the new commander knows there are many changes and transitions on the horizon, but wants to make sure the men and women of the group know their mission stays the same: to support the installation.

"The thing that will remain constant is the mission of the air base group will remain to provide the most outstanding service we can to the men and women of Team Hanscom," said Weilacher.

He knows change won't be the only challenge, however. In a time of decreasing budgets, part of the commander's job will be to make sure Hanscom is "cost-conscious."

"I think it's important we treat every dollar as if it's our own," said Weilacher. "Every tax payer dollar we spend, we have to ask, 'If it were my money, would I spend it this way? Can we meet the customer's need while spending less?'"

The commander thinks his previous experience will help him step into this new role.

"I'm fortunate that I was a comptroller squadron commander in two of my past assignments," he said. "Acting as the principal financial advisor to the wing commander, I had to know a fair amount about everything that happened on the base and what the various organizations did."

He also knows that Hanscom is unique due to the many civilians that work here, but that is also something he can relate to, having just come from Washington, D.C.

"I would like to think my experience at the Pentagon, particularly in the Office of the Secretary of Defense-Comptroller, has prepared me well to not only appreciate civilians, but also the vital work performed by our contractor workforce. National security is the ultimate team sport."

Even though most of his previous assignments have been at operational bases, Weilacher can appreciate the intricacies of an Air Force Materiel Command base since his first assignment was at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center at McClelland AFB, Calif. The center was a part of Air Force Logistics Command, one of the two commands merged to form AFMC in 1992.

But during his free time, the colonel hopes to enjoy the New England area with his wife, Charlotte, daughter, Kathrynn, and son, Logan.

"We plan to take full advantage of the history, the city of Boston and the outdoor activities," he said. "In fact, I went for a run to Lexington and I was amazed at the courtesy of everyone...We look forward to learning about the Revolutionary history of this area. This is where it all started."

Outdoor activities are something the commander is especially excited about. He brings with him hobbies such as archery and fishing. The colonel is also fond of running.

"I used to be fast." he explained, "Now I just try hard."

In the end, Weilacher is excited to be here and lead the men and women of the air base group. Serving is something that is engrained in his family. He grew up as a military brat, but calls Alamogordo, N.M., home.

His father, who commissioned him as second lieutenant, retired as an Air Force lieutenant colonel and his grandfather served in World War II.

"I've always been interested in serving our nation," he said. "Dad was a role model for me and I decided to follow in his footsteps."

Weilacher continues serving because it's "still fun" and because of the caliber of people he works with every day. He knows he's taking command at an interesting juncture.

"As ESC (Electronic Systems Center) stands down, I want to make sure we maintain a sense of Team Hanscom, maintain a sense of cohesion," said the colonel. "Being selected to be a commander is such an honor."