Early influence prepared ABG commander

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 66th Air Base Group's commander learned early in his life the importance of Air Force core values -- long before the Air Force officially embraced them in 1995.

That's because Col. David R. Dunklee brings a strong Air Force background to his new position, having grown up under the tutelage of his father, retired Master Sgt. David E. Dunklee.

"I am proud of everything my father accomplished during his 20-year career in the Air Force," said Dunklee, who was promoted earlier this month with his parents and other family members in attendance. "I admire his zest for taking care of Airmen and the passion he had in accomplishing the Air Force mission."

Those character traits led his son to Arizona State University and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps upon completion of high school.

Following graduation from ASU with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1994, Dunklee entered the Air Force later that year. Throughout his 21 years in the Air Force, he has held a number of positions that have prepared him well for working in an organization like the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

In earlier assignments, Dunklee served as a deputy program manager for Standard Systems Group, Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Alabama. He has also been a commander at the flight, detachment and squadron level in Air Force Materiel Command, Pacific Air Forces, Air Mobility Command and Air Force Space Command.

Prior to his official appointment to command earlier this month, the colonel served as the air base group's deputy commander. In this role he saw firsthand the mission of the group and the quality of people who accomplish it each day.

"By taking advantage of the many talents across this organization, and by having a clear vision and staying focused on the mission, together we will continue to accomplish great things," he said.

Dunklee noted that those accomplishments fall squarely on the entire team.

"While we continue to execute the mission support role together, we must remain focused on being the best in the Air Force to support our acquisition community so that they can support the warfighter," he said.

The colonel also stressed how important it is for him and other ABG leaders at all levels of the organization to mentor their subordinates while carrying out support to the AFLCMC-Hanscom mission.

"It is incumbent on all of us to share our own experiences and leadership skills, to pass that on to the next generation," Dunklee said. "As commander, I hold the expectation that each supervisor is doing that with their subordinates."

Colonel Dunklee, who is tentatively scheduled to be reassigned this summer to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, discussed as one of his top priorities the need to take care of Airmen.

"I would really like to see the canopies erected at our entry control points," he said, highlighting the ongoing project to install overhead shelters at the gates for 66th Security Forces Squadron personnel who provide security 365 days a year in all weather conditions.

Another point of emphasis for the new commander is concern for Hanscom's younger Airmen with child care needs. And while he doesn't expect to solve the problem, he has taken steps to begin the conversation.

"The Child Development Center does an outstanding job of taking care of the children they can accommodate," he said. "But the CDC is small compared to the number of families we have enrolled and on the waiting list. We have to work to find a solution."

He also highlighted that the Hanscom Middle School and Airman and Family Readiness projects are nearing completion and a new dormitory project scheduled to begin this summer.

When asked his thoughts on his promotion and leading Airmen, Dunklee talked about his excitement at continuing to make an impact throughout Team Hanscom.

"Our number one job in the group is to provide the best support capabilities to every member of Team Hanscom as well as the many retirees living in the six-state New England area and New York," he said. "Every day our priority is to make sure we do the best we can with the resources we have."