Tyndall welcomes new partner

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Team Tyndall leadership recently attended the passing of the gavel to welcome the new Military Affairs Committee Chair for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

At a Feb. 6 ceremony in downtown Panama City, Fla., representatives from Tyndall and the Naval Support Activity Panama City said goodbye to outgoing MAC Chairman, Mr. David Powell, and welcomed Mr. Alfred McCambry to the role.

"Tyndall has a great relationship with the surrounding communities, and a large part of that is due to the Military Affairs Committee," said Col. David E. Graff, 325th Fighter Wing commander. "Dave has really taken the time to get to know our Airmen and the Tyndall AFB missions. It is this type of personal interaction that is so critical to the success of our base and our Airmen and their families. We look forward to continuing this relationship ship with Al."

The committee for Bay County is committed to promoting a cooperative working relationship and direct support to the military installations, according to the organization's website. The MAC has been a part of the chamber since 1946.

"I really just want to continue to make the military personnel--active, civilian and retired understand how much we as a community appreciate them," Mr. McCambry said. "I want the military personnel to understand that we know that they have placed their lives in harm's way so that we may continue to have the freedoms and opportunities this great nation of ours grants us.

The MAC Chair serves for a period of one year. During that year, Mr. McCambry has another message he wants to spread to the community.

"The military is also a multi-billion dollar economic engine for Bay County, and not everyone understands that," he said.

Tyndall AFB had an economic impact of more than $570 million in 2011 to the local area, according to the base's latest economic impact report.

Mr. McCambry was the previous Chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and just recently spoke to more than 50 attendees at Tyndall's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Jan. 18 at the base chapel.

"I've always believed that the average citizen has no real idea of what and how the military protects us day in and day out," Mr. McCambry said. "As I get to become more intimate with the military, I can assist in communicating to 'Joe Public' just how strategic and important our military bases are not only here in Bay County; but also throughout our country."