PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Greetings to the members of the 146 Airlift Wing and the Wing Association.
It is an honor to be taking over as President of our proud alumni association. Command Chief Rick Onsgard, retired has done a fantastic job leading our organization over the last five years, to include the difficult
time during COVID. During this time, he maintained the closeness and feeling of family in our organization. Of course, he does like to talk, so I guess it wasn’t all that hard keeping everyone in the loop, but I truly appreciate his efforts. To keep me on track and out of trouble, he has agreed to take the position of Vice President. I’m looking forward to working with our Association and currently serving military members. Together, we share a bond forged in discipline, service, and commitment to something greater than ourselves.
Every year brings renewal and the opportunity for good times and memories waiting to be made. As we continue 2026, the Board and I extend our heartfelt gratitude to every member of the
Wing and the Association. Your dedication, your spirit, and your continued engagement are the foundation of our strength.
The first event we attended this year was the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ceremony and Banquet. It was prestigious, proudful, and a lot of fun. We have some photos on the website you can look at. On February 24 th , we had our first quarterly luncheon at the Black Bear Diner in Ventura, CA. We were given an update about the base and some information on the changes to our website. Please take a look at the pictures in our Photo Gallery tab. On June 7th we had our quarterly luncheon at Channel Islands ANGS in the Dining Facility, sharing an authentic Drill Weekend lunch together. Col Lutz gave an excellent and informative briefing of the Wing’s current status and challenges ahead. Members of the “Top Three” were able to join us, giving everyone the opportunity to mingle and catch up on old and current times. Also, we are pleased to announce a Casino Night, August 8 th , at Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme. Please see the flyer for more detailed information and ticket purchasing. As always, all proceeds will go to the Steven Friedrick’s Scholarship Program.
The Wing is navigating significant challenges this year. Manning is still a concern Air Force wide and time needed to keep their Drill Status Guardsmen sharp and ready for exercises, mission requirements, and daily responsibilities. In addition, the ongoing installation infrastructure issues. I personally joined the 146th in January 1991 when myself and the base was new and working well. I think we both have things that need some work.
We are proudly continuing with our Steven Friedrick’s Scholarship Program. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear Tony Volante, who devoted himself wholeheartedly managing this program. We are all so very grateful for Tony’s hard work and dedication. He will be sorely missed. Myself and Rick Onsgard will be working this together this year. Donations for the Scholarship are always welcome, and easier to navigate on the website or mail a check to the address on our webpage as before. The deadline for applying receive one of the scholarships is 15 September 2026.
We’re also working hard to update our website, so our events are known earlier to allow more members to plan accordingly and are able to attend. I encourage everyone to explore the website and all of the information and pictures available. We are working to create an Instagram account alongside our Facebook account, in hopes of being accessed easier and appeal to the younger members of the 146th Airlift Wing.
Our mission is to preserve our traditions, and strengthen the network that has carried so many of us through life’s challenges. As we look ahead, I invite each of you to stay engaged whether by mentoring, attending events, or contributing to our programs. Your involvement ensures that our legacy remains strong for generations to come.
As a service organization, and a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, we will always keep our members first and our mission to support the Wing and its members a top priority.
Please drop us a quick note with your suggestions to:
[email protected]
and/or [email protected]
Your Association looks forward to seeing you at one of our functions this year.
Wishing you all best.
George Ramirez
President – 146th Wing Association
http://www.146thwingassociation.org
It is an honor to be taking over as President of our proud alumni association. Command Chief Rick Onsgard, retired has done a fantastic job leading our organization over the last five years, to include the difficult
time during COVID. During this time, he maintained the closeness and feeling of family in our organization. Of course, he does like to talk, so I guess it wasn’t all that hard keeping everyone in the loop, but I truly appreciate his efforts. To keep me on track and out of trouble, he has agreed to take the position of Vice President. I’m looking forward to working with our Association and currently serving military members. Together, we share a bond forged in discipline, service, and commitment to something greater than ourselves.
Every year brings renewal and the opportunity for good times and memories waiting to be made. As we continue 2026, the Board and I extend our heartfelt gratitude to every member of the
Wing and the Association. Your dedication, your spirit, and your continued engagement are the foundation of our strength.
The first event we attended this year was the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ceremony and Banquet. It was prestigious, proudful, and a lot of fun. We have some photos on the website you can look at. On February 24 th , we had our first quarterly luncheon at the Black Bear Diner in Ventura, CA. We were given an update about the base and some information on the changes to our website. Please take a look at the pictures in our Photo Gallery tab. On June 7th we had our quarterly luncheon at Channel Islands ANGS in the Dining Facility, sharing an authentic Drill Weekend lunch together. Col Lutz gave an excellent and informative briefing of the Wing’s current status and challenges ahead. Members of the “Top Three” were able to join us, giving everyone the opportunity to mingle and catch up on old and current times. Also, we are pleased to announce a Casino Night, August 8 th , at Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme. Please see the flyer for more detailed information and ticket purchasing. As always, all proceeds will go to the Steven Friedrick’s Scholarship Program.
The Wing is navigating significant challenges this year. Manning is still a concern Air Force wide and time needed to keep their Drill Status Guardsmen sharp and ready for exercises, mission requirements, and daily responsibilities. In addition, the ongoing installation infrastructure issues. I personally joined the 146th in January 1991 when myself and the base was new and working well. I think we both have things that need some work.
We are proudly continuing with our Steven Friedrick’s Scholarship Program. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear Tony Volante, who devoted himself wholeheartedly managing this program. We are all so very grateful for Tony’s hard work and dedication. He will be sorely missed. Myself and Rick Onsgard will be working this together this year. Donations for the Scholarship are always welcome, and easier to navigate on the website or mail a check to the address on our webpage as before. The deadline for applying receive one of the scholarships is 15 September 2026.
We’re also working hard to update our website, so our events are known earlier to allow more members to plan accordingly and are able to attend. I encourage everyone to explore the website and all of the information and pictures available. We are working to create an Instagram account alongside our Facebook account, in hopes of being accessed easier and appeal to the younger members of the 146th Airlift Wing.
Our mission is to preserve our traditions, and strengthen the network that has carried so many of us through life’s challenges. As we look ahead, I invite each of you to stay engaged whether by mentoring, attending events, or contributing to our programs. Your involvement ensures that our legacy remains strong for generations to come.
As a service organization, and a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, we will always keep our members first and our mission to support the Wing and its members a top priority.
Please drop us a quick note with your suggestions to:
[email protected]
and/or [email protected]
Your Association looks forward to seeing you at one of our functions this year.
Wishing you all best.
George Ramirez
President – 146th Wing Association
http://www.146thwingassociation.org