JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Gen. Mark Kelly, former Air Combat Command commander, recognized an Ogden native as an emeritus member of the ACC Commander’s Group during a recognition event at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Feb. 27.
During the event, Gen. Kelly presented Vickie McCall with the Commander’s Public Service Award for her distinctive accomplishments made over a span of 31 years as an active CG member.
McCall was a founding member of the CG, which was established in 1992. The program was developed to inform civic leaders on ACC’s priorities, so they can engage with congressional delegates, mobilized networks, and established partnerships to advance ACC and the Department of the Air Force’s interests.
“As a civic leader, I truly believe it’s my commitment to take what I have learned from our meetings, visits, and correspondence and share it with friends, business colleagues, congressional delegates, and quite frankly, anyone who wants to listen,” McCall said.
Kelly presented the award to McCall and fellow emeritus member, Dr. Lucy Greene, in front of a room full of fellow CG members, Airmen, friends and family.
“Civic leaders commit their time, effort and energy, and very often their own money, for the greater good of our Airmen and our nation, and they succeed,” Kelly said. “It’s not a trivial commitment that they make, and it does not go unnoticed.”
Born and raised just south of Hill Air Force Base, McCall has been invested in the base and its surrounding community for 45 years.
“I was the founding member of the Utah Defense Alliance and have served on numerous boards to include the Air and Space Forces Chiefs’ Civic Leader Group and the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services,” McCall said.
The recognition event was part of a week-long visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis that coincided with Gen. Kelly’s retirement and ACC’s change of command. The visit allowed the CG members an opportunity to bid their farewells, and to welcome the new ACC commander, Gen. Ken Wilsbach.
The CG members also received multiple briefs on the latest top issues and challenges that the Air Force faces. Though McCall is now an emeritus member, she’ll still take what she’s learned during this visit to continue her support of ACC and its Airmen.
“It’s not the shiny things like the fabulous aircraft and the amazing workforce we have at Hill, but it’s the Airmen that draw you in,” McCall said. “It’s a privilege and it’s an honor and I have loved every minute of my involvement.”