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News | Sept. 24, 2015

Land and Maritime celebrates 68 years of air power

By Michael Molinaro DLA Land and Maritime Public Affairs

DLA Land and Maritime celebrated the 68th birthday of the U.S. Air Force Sept. 17 in the Building 20 auditorium.

Airmen, past and present, along with associates and guests of Defense Supply Center Columbus gathered to honor the day Pres. Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, establishing the Department of the Air Force

Since that historic day, “the Air Force embarked on the wings of excellence, earning a place in the historical journals of airpower, space and cyberspace, as the greatest Air Force in the world,” James McClaugherty, Land and Maritime deputy commander and retired Air Force colonel, said.

“Over the years we have grown from a force of piston-engine aircraft to a force that has integrated space warfare into its capabilities,” he said.

Those in attendance had the fortune to listen to the program’s guest speaker, Air Force Col. (Ret.) Jennifer Fullmer. During her distinguished career, Fullmer served in many capacities, including as a commander, flight examiner and squadron weapons officer. Call sign “Hogg,” she also served as a combat pilot, flying more than 90 missions over the skies of Afghanistan and Iraq in the B1 bomber. She is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and BronzeSstar, amongst other awards and decorations.

“I’m speaking to the DLA Land and Maritime team, on the Air Force birthday? Ok, does that make any logical sense?” Fullmer jokingly said to those in attendance.
Fullmer shared passionate remarks ranging from how the military is “a symbol of hope for the oppressed” to revisiting some of her most daring missions during Operation Enduring Freedom. She gave an abbreviated history of the evolution of the B1 bomber and made the connection that Land and Maritime has with the Air Force.

“Due to innovative airmen and responsive lean-forward organizations like DLA Land and Maritime, we have consistently kept the B1 relevant and operated on the front lines of the evolving fight for the past 16 years,” Fullmer said.

“DLA Land and Maritime, in a multitude of ways, directly and indirectly, continues to be a critical enabler of the cause for freedom around the world and the Air Force, like all the other services, is both a customer and a supplier.”

Ohio National Guard Adjutant General Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman read a proclamation on behalf of Ohio Gov. John Kasich. In addition to those who spoke, several Airmen took part in the birthday party. Air Force Junior ROTC OH-871 from East High School presented the colors, Master Sgt. Alyson Jones from the Air Force Band sang the national anthem, Tech Sgt. Suzannah Haley led the Airman’s Creed, and Airman Ivan Velazquez, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, representing the youngest Airman, cut the cake along with McClaugherty.