55th Wing Commander gets star treatment

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Peter R.O. Danielson
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  55th Wing commander John N.T. Shanahan celebrated his promotion to brigadier general during a special ceremony at the Patriot Club here June 29. 

"Offutt can take pride in his success," said Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, 8th Air Force commander who presided over the ceremony. "It takes a lot of support to make a brigadier general." 

Leadership from the 55th Wing, the Air Force Weather Agency, U.S. Strategic Command and the local community came to support Brig. Gen. Shanahan. Laura Shanahan, the general's spouse, and Airmen from Offutt also attended. 

General Shanahan is responsible for organizing, equipping and training six groups and 30 squadrons executing worldwide reconnaissance, intelligence, information warfare, command and control, presidential support and treaty verification missions. He is also responsible for base support to Offutt's 90 associate units, including U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Weather Agency, and more than 57,000 active-duty members, civilians, family members and retirees. 

General Shanahan began his Air Force career as a navigator, and has earned the right to be called a master navigator. He has earned more than 2,600 flying hours, primarily in the F-4 D/E/G and F-15E. He is also authorized to wear the basic intelligence occupational badge. 

"I've found very few records like his," said General Carpenter. "He has been a distinguished graduate in everything he has ever done. It is no surprise that he could make it to this rank." 

General Shanahan graduated from the University of Michigan in 1984 and received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the same year. 

"I want to thank the three groups of people that allowed me to reach this point and who have been responsible for my successes over the years: my bosses, my peers, and the many men and women of all ranks and all Services who I was fortunate to have work for me," said General Shanahan. 

General Shanahan started by thanking his previous commanders, crediting them with his opportunity to excel. He also expressed appreciation for demonstrating leadership that he could later adopt. 

"I have worked for superb leaders during my career," said General Shanahan. "While I could never duplicate any single one of them, I have tried to emulate qualities of all of them." 

"I have always been a follower of the team approach," continued General Shanahan. "I never treated my peers as stepping stones. Instead, I helped the people around me and they gave me the same respect." 

In closing, General Shanahan thanked the Airmen of the 55th Wing and others from his previous command. 

"I am where I am today because of the incredibly talented Airmen I have worked for and worked with during the past 25 years. I know that I must continue to take care of our Airmen and provide the environment for them to succeed."