Base commander Schiavi retires a brigadier general

Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.自存倉Aug. 31--OTIS AIR BASE -- Anthony "Kimo" Schiavi will go off into the wild blue yonder as an Air Force brigadier general.Schiavi, 52, retires officially from the Massachusetts Air National Guard today, but on Friday a ceremony was held to promote the 30-year veteran pilot to general. The setting inside a hangar on the grounds of the 102nd Intelligence Wing was a fitting one, since Schiavi spent two-thirds of his career at Otis Air National Guard Base and led its transition from a fighter wing to its new mission gathering information to support troops.With family, friends and colleagues watching, Schiavi's wife, Debe, pinned the one-star on his dress blue uniform, followed by his daughter, Holly Tavano, who pinned the star on his flight cap. Sandwiched in between, Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, adjutant general of the Guard, changed the epaulet of Schiavi's uniform shirt to signify his change in rank.After the ceremony, Schiavi gave his wife a gentle kiss and a bouquet of flowers."I have certainly been blessed with a loving and supportive family, which in today's military is so important," Schiavi said.Schiavi was recognized by Rice for bringing the 102nd through what he called a "difficult" transition and maintaining the 102nd's "outstanding" reputation. "That is a significant hurdle to overcome," he said of the change in mission. "This wing is No. 1 in the country over 89 in the National Guard. That deserves another round of applause."Brig. Gen. Gary Keefe, who is commander of the state's Air National Guard and will take over as executive director at Joint Base Cape Cod, credited Schiavi for being a mentor to so many airmen and airwomen. "He takes that leadership pyramid and turns it upside down," Keefe said. "He d迷你倉新蒲崗velops people."During his remarks, Schiavi said that's something he has always tried to remember. "I'm keenly aware that no one achieves success on their own," he said. "At the end of the day, it's the people you lead who get the job done."The new rank comes with no boost in pension, unless Schiavi is pulled out of retirement by Rice to rejoin the command of the Massachusetts National Guard. He would have to serve as a general for three years for the promotion to affect his retirement pay, Rice said."I have a great job in Ashland as the town manager. I love it there," Schiavi said. "We'll take it one day at a time."Schiavi plans to split his time between Ashland, where he recently purchased a condominium, and the Cape. "We would never sell our house on the Cape," he said. "We're here for the long haul."Most recently, he served as executive director at Joint Base Cape Cod, formerly known as Massachusetts Military Reservation, where his role was to coordinate the four commands at the base.Schiavi's career in the military began in 1983 after earning his commission through a reserve officer training program at Holy Cross College. He was an F-15 pilot and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, where he was credited with 56 combat missions, including one confirmed aerial victory.In an earlier interview with the Times, Schiavi said he received the nickname "Kimo," which is short for kimosabe, during his days as a wingman.On Friday, friends, family and colleagues took turns calling him by his new moniker, "General Kimo.""He's such a great co-worker, but he's a better friend," Keefe said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉出租