JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Civic leader and local car dealership owner Matt Welch, received the opportunity to shadow the 62nd Airlift Wing command chief for a day, July 29.

Matt and Amy Welch, Auburn Volkswagen owners and Pierce Military and Business Alliance members, were selected as honorary command chief by Chief Master Sgt. Tico Mazid, 62nd AW command chief, and Matt was afforded the opportunity to meet and mentor young airmen as he shadowed the chief and embraced his role as honorary command chief.

"I heard about the program through PMBA," said Welch. "Past honorary commanders kept telling my bride (Amy) and I that we would love it and it's a great thing to do, so I was honored to be asked by Chief Master Sgt. Mazid to be the honorary command chief."

To kick off the day, Welch met Mazid in his office to go over the list of events for the day.

Their first stop was at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Firefighter Legacy Memorial unveiling and firefighter combat challenge at the McChord Field fire station.

While there, the two witnessed a ceremony honoring the conclusion of Air Force firefighters at JBLM and then met with the participants of the challenge.

Once they left the fire station, Welch was able to sit in on some of the wing's daily meetings.

"Attending meetings with the chief helped me better understand the leadership here," said Welch. "They have a very difficult job that only few can do."

After the morning meetings, Welch joined a panel of leadership to include Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd AW commander, Col. Stephen Snelson, 62nd AW vice commander and Mazid, as they visited with airmen from the First Term Airmen Center.

"I am not prior military, but I have a lot of family members that have served and currently serve this wonderful nation," said Welch. "So it was a great honor to sit on the panel with these awesome leaders and talk to the airmen."

Welch followed up the FTAC visit with the Team McChord quarterly awards ceremony and ended his visit with meeting airmen in the McChord Field air traffic control tower.

Welch and Mazid both agreed that they have a built a great relationship and look forward to continuing servicing the airmen here at McChord.