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D-M commander 'surprised and honored' to be named

Carol Ann Alaimo Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, September 17, 2010 12:00 am


Col. John A. Cherrey

For the last few months, Col. John Cherrey has been easing into his new job as wing commander of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Cherrey, 44, has been in uniform since 1988 and has more than 3,600 hours in the cockpit, including time in the skies over Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Q: This is the first time you're spending extended time in Tucson. What are your impressions so far?

A: I'm very impressed with a number of things. First, the outstanding support of the community - everyone from elected officials to business leaders to people I meet when I'm out and about. Second, the incredible pace this base is operating at. Many people think of D-M as just an A-10 base, but, in reality, there are five other major operations going on at any given time. Last, I'm a huge fan of the outdoors, and Tucson has given me the opportunity to get back into hiking and biking almost every weekend.

Q: Your first university degree was in engineering. What made you want to leave that field to be a pilot?

A: I'd never even been in a commercial plane until the Air Force flew me to training between my sophomore and junior year in college. I was really hooked when they flew me in a T-37 jet trainer. I went back my ROTC program and really wanted to give flying a try. I always figured if being a pilot didn't work out, I'd just go back to being an engineer.

Q: Your last job was in Afghanistan as an operations group commander. What did that teach you?

A: The operations group at Kandahar was far more diverse than most in the States. We had so many different missions going on that every day was a new issue. The missions included close air support, special-operations support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, and others. I learned a lot about different Air Force roles and how we integrate into the overall joint mission.

Q: How does one get to be a wing commander in the Air Force?

A: There's no application for the job. Senior officers screen your records to determine a list of eligible colonels. My boss in Afghanistan called me in to inform me I'd be commander of the 355th Fighter Wing. I was extremely surprised and honored.

Q: At 44, you're one of the youngest D-M bosses in recent memory. Do you relate more readily to younger troops?

A: I've got a 15-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter who are closer in age to many airmen than I am. I think my close relationship with my kids and my interest in what airmen are doing and the challenges they face helps me relate. I don't ever think about my age with respect to my command approach. I think youthful energy is an advantage when I'm trying to keep up with some pretty high-speed airmen.

Q: What are your priorities at D-M?

A: My priority is to ensure all D-M airmen understand the mission of the base.

Our A-10s are a great combat asset that we deploy. But in addition, there are usually between 700 and 1,000 (non-aviation) airmen deployed at any given time. It's the wing's responsibility to ensure they're ready to do their combat missions the minute they get to their deployed locations.

My other priority is to take care of our airmen. They are deploying at an incredible rate, with little relief in the sight. It puts a strain on the them and their families, and we've got to make sure we're looking out for them.

we've got to make sure we're looking out for them.