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JBSA News
NEWS | June 12, 2020

‘Thank You’

By Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman 502d Air Base Wing Commander

When I think back over the last two years, I am filled with gratitude for the women and men of the 502d Air Base Wing, our mission partners and the greater San Antonio community.

When I arrived here,  I knew in advance that the 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio played an important role in the national security of our nation with pivotal inflection points not only for the Air Force,  but also for our sister services and for the Department of Defense.

I was also aware that San Antonio was known as “Military City USA.”  What I did not know in advance was that this is a community firmly rooted in a foundation of partnership.

In the last 24 months, JBSA has engaged in an unprecedented number of DOD-level crisis response operations such as Hurricane Michael; southern border support; military family housing crisis; dorm and training campus mold remediation, and more.

I have always believed that together, we are stronger, and together, nothing is impossible. In every situation we have faced, this community has come together and demonstrated what true partnership means.

I am grateful for the women and men of the 502d for addressing every opportunity and challenge we have faced with open hearts and open minds, leading the way by living our motto: One Team … One Mission!

Together, this wing earned back-to-back Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and is currently a finalist for the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence – Congratulations!

I am thankful for the 10 Major Commands, 22 Wings and Brigades, and 266 Mission Partners who played integral roles in making JBSA a premier joint base in the DOD’s constellation of installation. 

This has been especially true throughout our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Working together, we established clear lines of communication and implemented critical protocols to safely deliver installation services and secure the health and safety of 80,000 joint base personnel and over 12,000 trainees in the basic military and advanced training pipeline. 

I am indebted to the city, county, state and federal leaders in and around San Antonio who partner with us consistently to achieve the best results possible.

Among many of the civilian-military partnership success stories this year, a collaboration with our regional municipalities resulted in the first-ever blanket Inter-Governmental Support Agreement and $9 million in Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant funding from the State of Texas and local partnerships to bolster electrical resiliency.   

I am so proud to be a part of this incredible joint team that ensures Joint Base San Antonio is the best place to live and work. That work will continue as Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller takes command of the 502d ABW on Friday, June 12.  I am confident our team will support her with continued collaboration, trust and transparency.  

As I near the last few days of this command, my thoughts are filled with love for all of you, our JBSA family, and the San Antonio community. Thank you and God bless.