Conversation with the commander: Four-star Gen. Carlton D. Everhart has Fairchild’s back

Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II has been to Fairchild Air Force Base many times. But last week was his first visit as a four-star general.

A visit to the Spokane-area base by a ranking military officer at this level is every bit as planned out as you think it might be. It’s also every bit the rare occurrence you think it might be.

Since the base learned in early February of Gen. Everhart’s visit, Fairchild personnel have been working on every minute – actually, every second – of his roughly two-day schedule. And when Everhart finally arrived, it became clear the schedule would be more of a guideline than something that would be followed hard and fast.

It only takes a few minutes of talking with the general to understand why.

Yes, he believes in rules. He absolutely understands the importance of a schedule. He talks with passion about “the mission.”

It’s just that Everhart also wants to understand the perspective of the airmen under his command. And, more importantly, make sure they understand his deep appreciation for them and their work for the Air Force.

So, he talks with them, never rushing the conversation. He shakes hands – just as firmly as you think a handshake with a four-star general might be. He takes photos with nearly everyone who asks. Lots and lots of photos.

The most common description of Everhart by those who met him at Fairchild last week was that he had all the smarts and background you would expect of a general, except that, well … he was nice. Even down-to-earth.

Those around him say that’s not an act. Everhart says that’s just the way he was raised, but he said it’s also equally about his commitment to his mission.

He talks time and time again about how he believes if the airmen under his command are happy and truly appreciated, then it becomes all that much easier for them to complete their missions.

And right now, Fairchild is central to his mission. That’s seriously good news for Spokane.

When Air Force officials announced earlier this month that Fairchild would receive 12 additional KC-135 tankers, along with three additional tankers in a backup inventory, it made Fairchild the largest active refueling tanker base in the U.S. military.

In preparation, Fairchild will receive nearly $50 million in infrastructure improvements over the next couple of years, on top of the nearly $30 million in construction spending at the base this year.

Fairchild has long been Spokane County’s largest employer. When this transition is complete, active-duty staffing at the base will increase by at least 400.

Making that more important is the growing role of the KC-135. Practically every aircraft in the nation’s military inventory, as well as most of the U.S. allies’ airplanes, needs this type of refueling. And in locations all over the world.

This is what the Pentagon means when it refers to the “tanker war” – literally the ability to get fuel and supplies to troops anywhere on the planet.

That’s exactly what Everhart is in charge of.

So, why Fairchild? Well, that question elicits some great General Speak.

Everhart’s answer includes phrases like “the tyranny of distance” and “power-projection platform” and “area of responsibility is the globe.” All of that essentially means geography and proximity make Fairchild one of the most practical places in the world to have a fleet of flying gas stations.

That doesn’t guarantee Fairchild’s long-term survival, but it’s about as close to a guarantee as you get in this day and age.

Adding to his point is something called the “Mobility Guardian Exercise,” which will take place at Fairchild in late July and early August. It involves more than 25 nations practicing aeromedical evacuations, air mobility airdrops, air-to-land supply transfers and – of course – air refueling.

The massive operation will span Fairchild and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Tacoma.

“If you look at our power projection for where we have our forces laid out, there are two essential bases in the Northwest. There is McChord and there is Fairchild,” Everhart explained last week during his visit. “Airlift and air refueling, that’s our combination. That’s what we do.

“I believe this base is in very good shape from the standpoint of what it brings to national defense,” he said. “This role will continue well into the foreseeable future. It is a power-projection platform for America.”

A four-star general’s appearance at Fairchild absolutely gets the attention of not only local military personnel, but also elected officials at all levels. Part of his visit on Monday was with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Yet her meeting with Everhart wasn’t just about a photo op.

McMorris Rodgers and California Rep. John Garamendi are co-chairs of the bipartisan Mobility Air Forces Caucus.

“Meeting with them as often as we can gives us the opportunity to explain where mobility forces are headed and what issues we are facing, but it also allows for our voice to be heard on Capitol Hill,” Everhart said.

When it was announced earlier this year that Fairchild would not be one of the new homes for KC-46A tankers, McMorris Rodgers and Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell increased pressure for more KC-135s to land in Spokane.

It seems to have worked.

Everhart couldn’t be more pleased. It’s almost impossible to not hear the pride in his voice when he talks about Fairchild. The base has a soft spot in his heart – proof that generals’ hearts do have soft spots.

“This is a team that gets our mission done every single day to meet our nation’s needs,” he said. “I am talking about every member of Team Fairchild from our airmen to our colonels to our general officers.

“They just rock. They are the example that is set for America. I truly believe that. That is why I am so very thankful to them every day.”

When will Everhart make it back out to Fairchild? Nothing is scheduled, but one weekend has his attention.

The SkyFest Air Show, commemorating and celebrating Fairchild’s 75th anniversary, is scheduled for July 29-30.

“Everyone loves an air show, especially me. If I could go to one every weekend, I would. My family probably wouldn’t want me to do that, but this one is going to be phenomenal,” he said with a big smile.

The general, who has logged more than 4,500 flight hours as a command pilot, says he doesn’t get to fly nearly as much as he would like these days. He leans forward and says maybe Fairchild’s SkyFest Air Show would give him a chance.

He laughs. It seems like he might be at least a little serious.

But Everhart is absolutely serious in his belief that Fairchild has a lot of years in front of it.

And having a four-star general believe that is exactly what Spokane needs.