Tinker Air Force Base
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Robert Manger, (R-Oklahoma City) was inducted recently into the Tinker Air Force Base 2020 Honorary Commanders Program as part of the 552nd Air Control Wing.
The mission of the program is to increase awareness, understanding and cooperation while fostering essential relationships between Tinker’s senior leadership and community and government leaders from throughout central Oklahoma. “Tinker Air Force Base not only serves to keep our state and nation safe, but it adds hundreds of
jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars to our local economy,” Manger said. “To be named an honorary commander is an honor and will give me a greater insight into the inner workings of this important defense partner.” Honorary commanders are chosen from the Legislature and other local governments as well as community leaders. They are then paired with key leaders from the Tinker AFB for a one-year term during which they attend many special events such as unit changes of command and the Star Spangled Salute Air Show.
A goal of the Honorary Commanders Program is to develop integral interpersonal relationships to learn and understand how each partner’s activities affect the community and the base. Other goals are to provide opportunities for participants to learn more about his or her partner's business, mission, professional responsibilities and individual leadership style and to increase communication between on- and off-base leaders. As an inductee, Manger is paired with Col. Alain D. Poisson, commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB. Col. Poisson is responsible for Air Combat Command’s fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft and ground-based Control & Reporting Centers supporting combatant commanders worldwide. He leads over 3,800 men and women at four Air Force bases and manages resources that include 31 E-3 AWACS aircraft and two CRCs valued at $16.1 billion. Colonel Poisson also oversees Air Combat Command’s largest Programmed Flying Training Unit and its non-aircraft specific functional training.
Manger, elected to his first term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2018, represents Oklahoma House District 101, which includes Choctaw, Harrah, Midwest City, Nicoma Park and parts of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County. He is retired from the U.S. Marshals Service, where he held and maintained a top security clearance for 20 years as an Inspector in Charge. In that position, he received 20 service performance awards. He also works as a Realtor in the Oklahoma City metro area. “I’m excited to work with Col. Poisson and about this program,” Manger said. “I think this will be a great experience and quite honestly a lot of fun. I think I will come away with some important takeaways to continue our partnerships between this base and our communities well into the future.” The program was launched in 1996 as the Community Stars (COMMSTAR) and was revised in 2016.