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251st CEIG, 269th CBCS celebrate anniversaries, host hall of fame

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  • By Senior Airman Rachel Simones

The 251st Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group (CEIG) celebrated its 65th anniversary and the 269th Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS) celebrated its 75th anniversary at the Hollenbeck-Bayley Conference Center in Springfield, Ohio, August 5. 

The 251st CEIG and the 269th CBCS are the oldest expeditionary cyber units in the United States Air Force. 

The anniversary celebration also honored exceptional service members. The 251st and 269th inducted these outstanding members into their “Hall of Fame” during the ceremony. 

The original five members that founded the unit were inducted into the hall of fame, in addition to current and past service members. The original five members are Col. Charles Stahl, 2nd Lt. Charles Hinton, Airman 1st Class Harold Boyer, Airman1st Class William Dover and Airman 1st Class Orville Scott.

Col. Wade Rupper, the 251st CEIG Commander, highlighted Airmen’s accomplishments and discussed unit heritage. 

“We are not just a reserve unit, we serve at an operational level,” said Rupper. 

Lt. Col. Samantha Adducchio, the 269th CBCS Commander, honored the Airmen who are currently deployed.

“We have people all over the world providing communication systems,” said Adducchio. 

Retired Maj. Gen. John Maluda, the former Director of Cyberspace Transformation /Strategy and CIO at the Pentagon, was the guest speaker for the evening. 

“Be the very best that you can be at your job,” said Maluda. He interacted with Airmen throughout his speech, and provided leadership insight.

An award in the name of Maj. Charles R. Stahl, the first 251st CEIG commander, was given to recognize excellence within the unit. Stahl led the unit through its first 16 years, and his leadership was recognized as part of the group’s heritage.  

Other former members inducted in the hall of fame are from the 251st CEIG Brig. Gen. Craig McCord, Col. Robert Canter, Col Pasquale Gicale, Col. Robert Meyer, Col. Dave Howard, Col. Mike Welsh, Chief Master Sgt. William Bowman, Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Ceneskie, Chief Master Sgt. Karl Koogler, Chief Master Sgt. Philip Lambers, Senior Master Sgt. Robert French, Master Sgt. Daniel Mevis and Master Sgt. Tommy Wilkins.

Inductees from the 269th CBCS include Col. Richard Bennett, Lt. Col. Joseph McGuire, Lt. Col. Herbert Moore, Lt. Col. William Soeller, Lt. Col. Mark Stout, Chief Master Sgt. Richard Bennett, Chief Master Sgt. Glenn McConkey, Chief Master Sgt. Chris Muncy, Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Schetter and Senior Master Sgt. Alan Shaffer.