HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials held a regional commander’s meeting here June 28 to share information and provide key updates to mission partners throughout the region.
Senior leaders from Fort Devens, Natick Soldiers Systems Center, Massachusetts National Guard, US Coast Guard District 1, US Coast Guard Base Boston, USS Constitution, 25th Marine Regiment, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the Defense Contract Management Center attended the event.
“It’s an honor to bring together our dedicated leaders to collaborate on key issues,” said Col. Taona Enriquez, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, installation commander. “By working together, we strengthen our collective ability to support our service members and their families, ensuring we meet their needs and enhance our mission readiness.”
Representatives from various Hanscom AFB organizations and installation helping agencies were on hand to highlight their respective roles and capabilities and answer questions about how they can assist the Total Force population.
Topics discussed included the Exceptional Family Member Program, veteran services, military and civilian child care benefits, senior leader transition assistance from military service, and medical services to regional partners.
“For our regional commanders, we can provide annual flight PHAs [periodic health assessment] and active duty PHAs,” said Lt. Col. Clinton Borchardt, 66th Medical Squadron chief of medicine. “We have been approved to utilize the Viper Clinic, a telehealth clinic centrally located in San Antonio. We can do any readiness vaccinations, including HIV lab work.”
Currently at Hanscom AFB, only 40 percent of housing residents are Air Force-connected; the remaining are a mix of Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy, and Department of Defense civilian personnel.
The meeting finished with a discussion on community partnerships and regional issues. Leaders from various installations expressed their commitment to fostering collaboration and addressing common challenges.
“The strength of our collective efforts lies in our ability to support one another,” said Enriquez. “Meetings like this are invaluable for sharing resources and best practices.”
As the only active-duty Air Force installation in New England, units in the 66 ABG support the Total Force throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York area.
The regional meeting was the fourth held since 2022.