“Last Tuesday, our team lost a valued friend and brother, but more importantly, a family lost a husband, son and father," said Col. Gentry Boswell, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing.

Master Sgt. Scott Scovell, the assistant propulsion flight chief for the 28th Maintenance Squadron and native of Keene Valley, New York, died in his off-base home on Jan. 3, 2017. He is survived by his wife Vanessa, son Triston and daughter Heather, as well as his parents.

Scovell joined the Air Force on Dec. 10, 1997, and served with distinction at bases across the world, including installations in New Jersey, Alaska, Spain and finally, South Dakota.

As his fellow Airmen explain, Scovell was remembered and respected wherever he was assigned, earning several awards such as the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal, during his 19-year career.

“When we first met, we didn’t click right off the bat -- to be honest, we didn’t like each other,” recalled Tech. Sgt. Eric Simons, a hydraulic shop section chief assigned to the 22nd Maintenance Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. “We had arrived at our first station at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, fresh out of technical training. One day, we had an argument at work, and after time we hashed it out and eventually became best friends.”

Another friend of his, Master Sgt. Ken McKenna, the chief inspector of quality assurance assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Group at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, said although Scovell appeared to have a rough exterior, once a person broke through, they would find a kind and caring person beneath.

“I always thought of him as a huge teddy bear,” McKenna laughed. “As rough as an exterior as he had, he always cared for his Airmen.”

Reflecting on Scott’s time as an Airman, Simons remembered him as eager, wanting to learn everything, and geeky, while McKenna described him as hard working and an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed numerous activities such as fly fishing, hiking and camping.

As Scovell’s wing commander for just a few months, Boswell noted the impact Scott’s leadership and drive had made on his squadron since his arrival at Ellsworth on Nov. 3, 2016.

“It’s not often that one man can be so well-respected and appreciated by his supervisors, peers, and subordinates in such a short period of time,” Boswell said. “He immediately became a leader in his unit, and connected with the people around him.”

A memorial service will be held in honor of Master Sgt. Scott Scovell at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 11, 2017, in the Freedom Chapel on base. On behalf of the 28th MXS, all Ellsworth personnel are invited to attend.