HawgCast Ep. 15 - Zero Dark Thursday

In this month's HawgCast, Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas finishes his interview with Col. Brett "Zero" Waring, the 476th Fighter Group commander at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. In this half of the interview, Zero talks about his group's efforts in the surrounding community after Hurricane Helene, and how the 476th Vanguards went above and beyond to show there was no "I" in this hurricane!

In this months' #HawgCast, and in light of recent tragedies that have occurred in and around the wing, Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas conclude his interview with Chief Nate Parks (see Episode 14). This episode deals with heavy subjects, including loss of a loved one. It may be difficult to listen to, but Chief Parks' story is an inspiring one of resilience. On a lighter note, the #BabbleTime pot is up to $250. Get those guesses in!

In this month's episode of HawgCast, Bob and Rio talk by phone to Col. Brett "Zero" Waring, the commander of the 476th Fighter Group, about the night of and the first day after Hurricane Helene smashed into Valdosta, Ga., and Moody Air Force Base. This is part one the two-part interview, in which we start to hear about the extra miles the 476th Vanguards went to help their community recover from this devastating storm.

In this month’s episode of HawgCast, Col. Mike “Rio” Leonas talks with Chief Master Sgt. Nate Parks, the wing’s new command chief about his young life leading up to his service as a Kansas City Police Officer and what brought him back to the KC Hawgs the first time. This episode features the first half of the interview. The second half will be released at a later date. By the way, the Babble Time pot is now up to $200! Get those guesses in!

On this episode of HawgCast, we briefly get re-acquainted with Chief Master Sgt Nate Parks, our new command chief during Babble Time, where Col. Mike “Rio” Leonas accidentally almost adds a couple of extra zeroes to the Babble Time guessing pool. This month’s guests are Lt. Col. Joshua “Nomar” Geidel and Capt. Lauren Haythorne, who helped to lead the recent TDY to Hawaii for the international exercise RIMPAC.

In this episode of HawgCast, Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas drops the first "Babble Time" hint! Then he speaks with two pilots, "Bango" and "Stain," who volunteered to deploy to the Middle East at the end of last year.

In this episode of HawgCast, Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas interviews Mr. Nathan "Hootie" Hooton (with an O). Hooton breaks down his 35 years of service, both in the military and post-retirement as the Chief of Inspections for the 442d Fighter Wing. He talks about some of the things he's seen and how he developed into the leader he's become. Edited by Bob Jennings, 442d Fighter Wing Public Affairs

In this episode, Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas talks to MSgt. Adam Lambert about his recent deployment to Niger, where Lambert exemplified the multi-capable Airman concept by performing the functions of nearly the entire Mission Support Group when the base he was at cut manning after the host nation of Niger experienced a coup. Edited by Bob Jennings, 442 FW Public Affairs

In this month's HawgCast, Col. Mike Leonas talks to Lt. Col. John "Sapper" Tice, Maj. Nathan "Ponch" Bevis, and Senior Master Sgt. Jeremey Hankins, the director of operations, project officer, and daytime production superintendent for Exercise CAS 3.0. The three-week, live-fire close air support exercise in mid-to-south Florida had our KCHawgs supporting troops on the ground with 14 other units.

In Col. Mike "Rio" Leonas's first official podcast as 442d Fighter Wing commander, he and Maj. Shelley Ecklebe talk to Col. Brian "B-Lite" Leiter and Lt. Col. Pat "Chevy" Chevalier, both of whom started as enlisted members, earned a commission through their hard work and dedication, and went on to be two of the most respected leaders in the wing. We also introduce "Babble Time," in which Col. Leonas talks about the wing's news similar to Brig. Gen. Nester's "Nasty Time." In Babble Time, though, there's a twist – and a bit of a challenge! (Edited by Mr. Bob Jennings)