28th BW holds building dedication for former commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Denise Nevins
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Base and area civic leaders attended a special building dedication ceremony Nov. 10 to honor a former Ellsworth commander.

During the event the Mission Employment Center, home to Ellsworth's B-1 B simulators, was renamed the Joseph D. Brown IV Mission Training Center.

"The building is being dedicated to Maj. Gen. Joseph D. Brown who was stationed here from 2001 to 2005," said 1st Lt. Amela Kamencic, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron requirements and optimizations officer in charge. "He was a former operations group commander, vice wing commander, and wing commander."

Kamencic said Brown and his wife passed away in 2013, and because they had such a tremendous impact on the base, it was decided Brown should be remembered in a special way.

"After seven months of doing all the necessary research and going through the right people, we finally got approval to dedicate the building," Kamencic said.

The ceremony began at 2 p.m., immediately following the conclusion of the 24-hour Prisoner of War/Missing in Action vigil run.

"The memories and lasting impression Brown left on this base is still strongly felt today as it was when I first met him," said Col. Gentry Boswell, 28th BW commander. "He and his wife, Sue, had a passion for the Air Force, its mission, and the people at Ellsworth."

Kamencic added the building dedication was not only a way to honor Brown, but also a way to honor all servicemembers, past and present, for Veterans Day.

"In addition to the building dedication, the CGOC organized a 24-hour Prisoner of War/Missing in Action run to honor all veterans," Kamencic said. "Seeing everybody come together, whether military or civilian, and participate in an event that has significant meaning to everybody was truly amazing."