56th Force Support Squadron

Mission: Provide world-class support to Airmen and their families

Demographics: There are 116 active-duty, 77 appropriated fund personnel and 318 nonappropriated fund civilians.

Leadership

Commander: Lt. Col. Maritzel Castrellon

Deputy commander: Todd Wirt

Operations officer: Capt. Mike Adams

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Marty Marshall

First sergeant: Master Sgt. Robert Dwyer

Responsibilities: Second largest 56th FW squadron with 511 personnel and 60 facilities. Executes a combined $8.1M APF and NAF budget. Oversees manpower, personnel and MWR actions; five groups, 31 squadrons, three GSUs and seven tenants. Provides quality of life and personnel service to 4,200 military, 1,300 APF/NAF civilians, 8,000 dependents, for five countries and 74,000 retirees. Serves as the 56th FW mortuary office and provides all food and lodging support for Air Force aircraft search and recovery operations in the Arizona region.

Fun facts: Luke’s Airman & Family Readiness Center was one of the original 25 centers stood up in 1982. The A&FRC opened their doors on Oct. 22, 1982, in the same building it is in today. The Child and Youth Services Flight serves more than 3,750 meals per week and changes more than 4,000 diapers per week. Children at the library believe, as we do, that Story Time readers are real life Super Heroes. Many past Luke wing commanders who were Story Time readers went on to receive second and third stars.

56th Logistics Readiness Squadron

Mission: Provide superior integrated global logistics solution

Demographics: There are 240-plus military and 66 civilian members assigned

Leadership

Commander: Lt. Col. Robinson Mata

Operations officer: Capt. John Vogel

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Kazmirski

First sergeant: Master Sgt.
Travis Merriman

Responsibilities: Provides sustainment and logistics support for the 56th Fighter Wing, 944th FW and the Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield. Deployment and distribution administers mission and contingency operations support through planning, cargo movement, household goods and passenger movement, and vehicle, and air terminal operations. Materiel management sustains the wing with aircraft parts, consumables and permanent mission support kits through its flight service center, storage and customer service sections, and furnishes direct supply liaison support to the 56th Maintenance Group. Vehicle management performs materiel control, quality analysis, and general purpose, specialized and heavy equipment maintenance for the wing’s 740-vehicle fleet. Fuels management dispenses clean, safe Jet-A to the base through its 24-hour fuels service center, and flightline refueling operations. Readiness postures more than 240 personnel to support joint logistics operational requirements worldwide, while operations compliance executes quality assurance, training, resource management and systems responsibilities to support daily squadron operations.

Fun facts: The Latin motto on the LRS patch, “Semper Expeditus,” translates to “Always Ready.” The 56th LRS maintains one of the highest deployment tempos in the Air Education and Training Command. The unit is proud of their heritage and their “Outlaw” name.

56th Communications Squadron

Mission: We connect Team Luke

Demographics: There are 93 military and civilian personnel and four contractors.

Leadership

Commander: Maj. Nathaniel Edwards

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Aaron Sanchez

Plans and resources flight director/deputy: Michael Petz

Operations flight director: Harlan Hodgson

Responsibilities: Maintain automatic data processing equipment and provide computer services, personal wireless communications systems, records management, publications and forms, network infrastructure, postal services, spectrum management, knowledge management services, and telecommunications and information assurance for Luke Air Force Base.

Fun facts: The squadron motto, “Loquimini Tonitrum,” means, “Speak the Thunder.”

56th Contracting Squadron

Mission: Procure,
prepare, deploy

Vision: To set the standard in innovative acquisition support

Demographics: There are 20 military and 23 civilian members assigned.

Leadership

Commander: Maj.
Barbara Divine

Director of business operations: Mary Peetz

Superintendent: Master Sgt. Joseph Freeland

Responsibilities: Awards on average $60 million annually in appropriated and nonappropriated funded contracts, and manages more than $300 million in commodity, service, and construction contracts supporting the 56th Fighter Wing, the 944th FW, Fort Tuthill Air Force Recreational Area, Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, the 1.7-million-acre Barry M. Goldwater Range and other key tenant units. Consists of three operational flights: Services/commodity, construction/commodity, and plans and programs. Also serves as the installation program management office for the 56th FW Government Purchase Card Program. The GPC program office manages 290 cardholders, 97 billing officials and more than 22,000 transactions with expenditures averaging $13 million annually. CONS also trains, equips and deploys contingency contracting officers worldwide as part of the U.S. Air Force expeditionary forces.

Fun facts: Base patrons once viewed movies on the big screen in the facility. The 56th CONS building is the home of the original base theater.

56th Mission Support Group staff

Mission: Proactively serve Team Luke, providing a premier base community built on pride. We genuinely care about those we serve.

Demographics: There are six active-duty and three civilian members.

Leadership

Commander: Col. Robert Sylvester

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Donnie Bolton

Responsibilities: Delivers responsive combat support and builds a premier base through fostering of community partnerships. Six squadrons, 1900-plus members strong, perform the critical installation mission support to help keep the wing flying and serve more than 94,000 people and maintain approximately 4,200 acres and $2 billion value in land, buildings and real property.

56th Security Forces Squadron

Mission: We secure the future of airpower

Demographics: There are 152 military, 20 Department of the Air Force civilian police and 13 civilian personnel assigned.

Leadership

Commander: Lt. Col. Brian Loveless

Operations officer: Capt. Richard Cordova

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang

First sergeant: Master Sgt. Sean O’Sullivan

Responsibilities: Security of assigned and transient aircraft, law enforcement services, installation security, personnel security, combat arms training for all air expeditionary forces assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing and deployment of unit personnel to the area of responsibility.

Fun facts: The diamondback rattlesnake represents the 56th SFS and has 50 diamonds and six rattles. It is prevalent in the area where 56th SFS is stationed and is an appropriate symbol because it will stand its ground and strike when threatened.

56th Civil Engineer Squadron

Mission: Provide technically sound combat-ready engineers to build, sustain and protect Luke Air Force Base through engineering and emergency response services.

Demographics: There are 223 active-duty and 112 civilian members assigned.

Leadership

Commander: Lt. Col. Paul Fredin

Deputy commander: Neil Wentz

Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Martin

First sergeant: Master Sgt. Raymond Ramsey

Responsibilities: Includes fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal, readiness, design and construction, environmental programs, family housing and operations, and maintenance of Luke and the Barry M. Goldwater Range, including runways at Gila Bend and Aux 1 field.

Fun facts: One of the oldest wing units, it was first designated Squadron C, 56th Airdrome Group July 28, 1947, at Selfridge Field, Michigan, and is now known as the Dragonslayers.