Commander Flynn Reporting for Duty

On January 14, CHS Vice President of Development Kara Flynn was named to a two-year term as an Honorary Commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The Honorary Commanders Program is designed to foster positive relationships between Air Force leaders and civilian community leaders in the Black Hills area. Candidates are selected carefully, and installation is considered an honor.

“I am honored to be chosen to participate in this program so I can help Children’s Home Society become more connected to our neighbors at Ellsworth Air Force base,” Kara says.

“My father was a medical officer in the U.S. Army and my brother was born at Fort Bragg,” Kara adds. “So there is some family history with the military.”

Civilian participants are paired with an officer, meeting twice monthly, visiting and attending events in each other’s communities. Kara will work with Lt. Col. Sean Estrada of the 28^th Healthcare Operations Squadron through 2027. “He has a PhD in biomedical engineering from Rice University,” Kara said.

The 28^th Bomb Wing Public Affairs office works in concert with Elevate Rapid City, Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition, base and community leaders, and former Honorary Commanders to update and adjust the list of program participants each year. Former Honorary Commanders also serve as mentors to new Commanders; Kara’s mentor is Todd Walhof.

Kara looks forward to bringing CHS board members, staff and potentially the children we serve, on tours of the base.

CHS has existing relationships with people and organizations at the base. Volunteers from Ellsworth serve at Black Hills Children’s Home, and Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center has a memorandum of understanding with the base. Volunteers from Ellsworth come to Children’s Home Society once a month.

Greeting Commander Flynn with a salute is entirely appropriate through 2027, sources have confirmed.