By JULIE WHITNEY

Something we can always count on in life is change. It is a constant that keeps us all on our toes and wondering what might be around the next corner. It is a source of dislike for many individuals yet some welcome it with open arms.

Sometimes change brings with it sadness, loss and disappointment, and other times it provides us with a surprise of which we could never dream.

Such is the case I have found in the past few years since becoming friends with people that have devoted their lives to being in the military. They can count on being reassigned every 36 months in most cases.

They must pack their household belongings, say goodbye to friends and move to another base, often times, to another country. Perhaps they must move their children to a new school which comes with making new friends and getting settled in new surroundings. All this, to turn around and do it all again in the coming years.

One comment that has been repeated to me time and time again is how warm and wonderful the people of Tampa have been to the members of our military and their families. They say in all the many cities in which they have lived, never has there been a community that has made them feel as welcomed. Thank you Tampa!

New leadership
It was bittersweet for me to recently attend two change of command ceremonies. Col. Maggie Woodward passed the 6th Air Mobility Wing flag to Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hawkins. He in turn, passed the flag to Col. Robert Thomas, MacDill’s new base commander.

Thomas and his wife, Mari, have two young children and have come from Travis Air Force Base in California, where he was commander of the 572nd Contingency Response Group, a unit that rapidly establishes air bases in combat areas.

Col. Woodward has become the new commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., maintaining the presidential fleet of aircraft including Air Force One. Becoming a brigadier general is also in the stars for Maggie.

Another major plus is reuniting with her brigadier general husband, Dan, who is currently stationed in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon. They have been separated by duty and bases throughout the past seven years. 

I will miss her and her exuberance for life and love of country. She has commanded MacDill flawlessly and with grace, in a world dominated by men. At her farewell dinner, her staff and officers showered her with love and good wishes and obviously appreciated her leadership. Now, she is off into the wild blue yonder to break yet another glass ceiling.

Farewell to Abazaid
During the United States Central Command change of command ceremony, Army four-star General and Commander John Abazaid passed the U.S. Central Command Flag to Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. Gates in-turn passed the flag to Navy Adm. William Fallon.

The position has never been held by an admiral before. Fallon and wife, Mary, have four grown children and have come from United States Pacific Command located on Camp Smith, Hawaii.

Abazaid and his wife, Kathy, are retiring to Gardnerville, Nev. They have put this event on the back burner two years ago when Abazaid agreed to serve one last tour of duty. They have built their dream home and plan on enjoying their children and grandchildren. I will miss them greatly but know they are looking forward to this chapter in their lives.

Citizen of the Year
At the Centcom change of command, I sat down behind my friend Sue House and her husband, Joe. It gave me a chance to chat with her about her most recent award, Citizen of the Year from the Tampa Bay Sports Club.

The club, established in 1961, has given this most prestigious award to only four women since its inception, and Sue is most deserving since she has been promoting sports in Tampa through the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, her work on Legends Field, the Ice Palace, saving the Bucs and building the new stadium.

A member of the Tampa Bay Sports Authority, she was the second woman to be chairman in 1998, the opening year of Raymond James Stadium. Sue, a former model in her earlier years, is an elegant powerhouse that has fearlessly guided sports in Tampa.

Congratulations Sue, for many jobs well done!!!

See ya’ll around town!