BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Buckley Space Force Base officially welcomed an additional 13 distinguished civic leaders into its 2026-27 cohort of the Honorary Commander Program during a formal induction ceremony at its Leadership Development Center, Aug. 21, 2026. Buckley SFB’s Honorary Commander Program reinforces strategic partnerships between the installation's military leadership and the surrounding Front Range communities.
The program, which pairs key community leaders with senior military commanders across Space Base Delta 2 and its diverse tenant units, continues momentum from its revitalization and launch in March. Over the course of their two-year term, these honorary commanders will gain firsthand insight into Buckley SFB’s global national security operations, mission priorities, and the daily lives of its service members and military families. In turn, military leaders gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the local communities they call home.
"Community engagement is not a peripheral effort for us; it is one of my top four priorities as the installation commander," said Col. Eamon Murray, Space Base Delta 2 commander. "The strength of our connection to Aurora, Denver, Centennial, and the surrounding region directly impacts our readiness, resilience, and long-term success. We view these partnerships as mutually beneficial and operationally relevant."
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a current SBD 2 honorary commander and a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, emphasized the profound impact of the relationship.
"The base contributed $2.44 billion to the regional economy last year, which is critical to our city, but our partnership with Buckley runs much deeper than economics," Coffman said. "The best partnerships are built through personal relationships and understanding. This program gives civic leaders an opportunity to see firsthand what happens behind the gates, while giving military leaders a chance to better understand the communities they live in. That kind of two-way understanding builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any strong partnership."
The ceremony also featured remarks from Dr. Jeremy Haefner, chancellor of the University of Denver, who was inducted during the program’s revitalization in March 2026. He shared how the experience has helped bridge the local divide between higher education and the military.
"Before this program, Buckley was a base on a map — important in a general, national-security kind of way, but distant. Now I see it as a neighbor, an employer, and a partner in this region’s future," Haefner said. "At DU, we already share so much, including over 300 veteran students. This partnership works best when it runs in both directions. The true value isn't in today’s ceremony; it's in the briefings, the tours, and the conversations. I encourage our new honorary commanders to show up, say yes to the invitations, and look for ways to open their own institutions' doors just as Buckley has opened theirs."
When civic leaders understand the mission inside Buckley’s gates, they become active champions for service members. Conversely, when military commanders comprehend the priorities of their civic partners, they are enabled to develop a more resilient installation and integrated regional defense.
Honorary Commanders Inducted:
- Greg Raymond, regional senior vice president at Children's Hospital Colorado
- Mark Shaker, co-founder of Stanley Marketplace
- Nathan Evans, computer science and cybersecurity faculty chair at the University of Denver
- Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy-Colorado
- Alec Oughton, fire chief of Aurora Fire-Rescue
- Neil Krauss, assistant vice chancellor for initiatives and community engagement at CU Anschutz
- Scott Rausch, president and CEO of HCA HealthOne-Aurora
- Todd Chamberlain, police chief of the Aurora Police Department
- Jack Buffington, director of the Supply Chain Institute at the University of Denver
- Terri Velasquez, director of finance for the city of Aurora
- Erin Levesque, general manager of Launchpad Brewery
- Matt Marshall, general manager of Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
- Michael Reese, chief information security officer at Executech
Over the next two years, these honorary commanders will participate in operational briefings, facility tours and base events, working alongside their military counterparts to advance the shared interests of the installation and the local region.