Roller skates boost Scott AFB

There is a lot to like in the story of a little girl roller skating at Scott Air Force Base who becomes an accomplished tanker pilot and officer before coming back to command the entire base.

Col. Laura L. Lenderman is now commander of the 375th Air Mobility Command, which is the host unit and therefore responsible for daily operation of the base. It is an interesting assignment that forges leaders because your responsibilities include caring for thousands of service members and families while keeping two four-star generals, two three-star generals and dozens of other two- and one-stars happy with police protection and pothole filling and storm response.

These change of command ceremonies are a good reminder that Scott makes a lot of careers. There is a well-worn path through our community for officers moving up from units such as Air Mobility Command to U.S. Transportation Command to the Pentagon. That’s a lot of brass raising families and making their careers here.

The base estimates there are 18,332 retired service members who chose to live in our area. Add in two Abilene Awards in three years because this community best supported Air Mobility Command plus the Air Force Times naming this as a tie for the best place to be an airman. Taken together, that is pretty good evidence of the job we’re doing at supporting the base.

As we develop master plans and pour concrete for runways and gather property for future growth, it is important to remember that those human connections may be our greatest assets. Col. Lenderman’s swim coach and teachers and the people who gave her a safe place to grow up have a hand in her success, and her continued success in our military will be part of how Scott stays relevant and important to our military’s future.

We care, they care, together we succeed.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Roller skates boost Scott AFB."