Q&A: Commander talks job, next assignment

Editor’s note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Col. Barry Roche is the Commander for the mission support group at Cannon Air Force Base and will be leaving in June.

Q: Your assignment to CAFB will be ending in June. Where is your next assignment?

A: I will be going to HQ Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field Florida to serve as Director, Cyber and C4 Systems.

Q: How has CAFB changed since your arrival in the summer of 2022?

A: There have been many changes within the organizational structure of the 27th Special Operations Wing. In addition, new buildings have been erected or renovated, and we have made a lot of quality of life improvements as well. The growth of both the base and surrounding towns has been amazing to watch. The base’s relationship with the community has always been strong, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the close connection that I have personally formed with the community. In my 25 years of commissioned service, I have never experienced this level of involvement between the base and surrounding towns and county. It was a true privilege to be a part of this community, and I look forward to coming back to visit.

Q: What does the commander of the mission support group do? How many squadrons and employees are you responsible for?

A: The primary mission of the 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group is to provide combat support and base sustainment services to ensure the mission readiness of the 27th Special Operations Wing. The commander of the MSG is the closest position we have to a city manager. The group’s six squadrons oversee base housing, facilities/infrastructure, fire protection, environmental management, explosive ordnance disposal, disaster preparedness, food service, law enforcement and security, communications, personnel support, operational contingency services and other base services as well as recreation activities for Cannon Air Force Base’s military personnel, civilian employees, their families and area retirees. The MSG has around 1,900 personnel comprised of military, civilian and contractors.

Q: What would you say is the biggest challenge CAFB faces?

A: I think our biggest challenge, because of the second and third order effects, is the access to specialty medical care. That doesn’t only affect our airmen, but it affects their families, too. If the medical support here can’t support certain medical needs an airman or their family has, they may not even be able to be assigned here. Second, if they are assigned here but do have medical needs that they have to go out of the area for, it affects missed time off work, and ultimately, our readiness as a wing to provide special operations forces world wide when called upon. The local community is losing about a million dollars a month in medical care revenue when personnel have to travel to Albuquerque or out of state for medical care. This number does not account for the money that is spent in the local economy at shops, restaurants and entertainment before and after appointments.

Q: CAFB base has an honorary commander program. How does that program work; Working relationship and impact to the base?

A: The Honorary Commander program is a really neat program at Cannon. We open the program up to influential civic leaders in the community who are interested in having a better relationship with the base, and we bring them in for engagements and tours as often as we can. It is a way to build our community partnerships and enhance relationships. Mr. Lance Pyle, the Curry County manager, has been the MSG Honorary Commander for the past year and a half, and before him, Mr. Justin Howalt, the

Clovis City manager, served in the position. It was a great experience working professionally with them both, and they have become life-long friends. We were able to work on some really good projects together and give them more access to the base, which gave them more insight into what we do and what some of our challenges are. Someone in a position like a county manager has a lot of touch-points in the community and has helped connect us with various people and entities at different levels – the state, region, and also locally – to help solve some of our challenges here at Cannon and improve quality of life for our airmen and their families.

Q: How is the new Airman’s Attic? How does that program work? What are the needs and how can the communities of Curry and Roosevelt assist?

A: The Airman’s Attic is doing great. It is a place where airmen and their families – our junior enlisted, E-1 through E-6 population, can go to find things for their families they may need – baby clothes, strollers, cribs, uniforms, clothes, small kitchen appliances, etc. When we relocated the Airman’s Attic, we were also able to open a small food pantry which has been incredibly successful. As what our local community can do to assist – if you are interested in setting up a collection point for items that could be donated to the Airman’s Attic, we would also be interested. You can contact the public affairs office at [email protected].

Q: What are some projects you worked on and completed on Base? Total dollar amount investment?

A: The Air Force has invested $103M in military construction during my time at Cannon. Two of the projects that will be completed by the time I depart that will have a huge impact of quality of life and our ability to meet the 27th Special Operations Wing deployed mission are the new turf football field and track, and the new firing range.

Q: What are some projects you wanted to see done and why?

A: Most projects begin planning many years in advance of dirt being turned and require approval and funding above the base level. Most of the completed projects were initially conceived by wing leadership many rotations ago. An example of a project that has to get done, but was started about 5 years ago, is a new dormitory for our single enlisted airmen with less than 36 months in service that is currently projected for completion in 2029. We do receive around $7-8 million each year to complete smaller renovations and improvement projects. All of these projects are required to keep the base running. Some examples are runway repair and maintenance, replacement of air conditioning units, and minor renovations in buildings.

Q: How is the water situation on base? Any issues with water levels and availability?

A: Water conservation is a key focus area for the Department of Defense and 27 SOW. We are working hand-in-hand with the local community on efforts to conserve the aquifer and are in full support of the Ute Lake pipeline. Some of the steps we have taken on the base are water conservation education, actively monitoring water usage, utilizing reclaimed wastewater, and aggressive xeriscaping. Additionally, our community partners have been working incredibly hard to leverage Cannon AFB and Melrose Range to apply for and get Eastern New Mexico designated as a Sentinel Landscape. This milestone will ensure the projects the 27 SOW and our community partners have been working on through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) will continue to grow and expand to the 2.4 million acres surrounding Cannon AFB and MAFR – and continue to conserve natural resources like water.

— Compiled by Landry Sena, the Staff of the News