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Air Force District of Washington honors Vice Commander, Colonel J. Scott Chesnut.

  • Published
  • By Patricia Opong-Brown
  • AFDW Public Affairs
Bolliing AFB, DC --  Air Force District of Washington said farewell to Vice Commander Colonel J. Scott Chesnut on June 15, 2007 after serving nearly 25 years of Air Force service culminating with his tenure as Vice Commander of AFDW and the Air Force National Capital Region.

"I have been blessed by God with nearly 25 years of exciting Air Force service," said Col. Chesnut who graduated from Officer Training School and earned his commission in 1982. One of the highlights of his career was "watching our deployed team swing into action during the early hours of the Operation Iraqi Freedom air war. Every Airman at our desert location magically suspended any differences or disagreements to become an awesome "Swiss watch" as we went into battle."

Surrounded by his wife Mindy, their three children, Hallie, Brian and Ian and his father Dr. James Chesnut, the presiding official, Major General Robert L. Smolen, Commander of AFDW said Col. Chesnut "has an ability to foster team work and inspire leadership." In honor of his leadership, General Smolen presented the Col. J. Scott Chesnut Team Leadership Award named in honor the retiring vice commander. Every year a team will be selected based on the leadership principals Col. Chesnut embodied in his military career.

Col. Chesnut's official retirement date is July 1, 2007. After his retirement, he and his family will return to their home of Scottsdale, Arizona. Returning home will allow the Chesnut family many opportunities, for instance, his three children will get to attend the same high school their father did. The colonel says "in our spare time, my wife Mindy and I will pursue our hobbies and dreams." Some of his hobbies are jazz drumming and recreational flying. His wife Mindy would like to own a retail business and "have a house she won't have to turn back to the housing office."

Saying farewell to the Air force conjures up different emotions for the Vice Commander. "I will miss the team that I served and learned with, but I remain excited and optimistic about the future."

Col. Chestnut will be succeeded by Col. Jon Roop who is joining the AFDW team from Air Mobility Command Headquarters where he is serving as the Chief of the Expeditionary Combat Support Division, and is scheduled to arrive mid-August. In the interim, Col Rainer Stachowitz, AFDW Inspector General will serve as the acting vice commander for AFDW and AFNCR.