F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The Airman and Family Readiness Center was renamed during a ceremony June 18, 2021 at the facility on F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
The facility was named the Johnigan Center for Airman and Families in honor of Irene Johnigan, a longtime associate of the base and staunch supporter of generations of Airmen stationed at F.E. Warren.
Many of those in attendance were individuals Johnigan had personally affected in her nearly 50 years of federal service and then serving Airmen through the Air Force Association and other organizations.
“My second priority when I began command was to develop Airmen and help their families, and it wasn’t negotiable,” said Col. Peter Bonetti, 90th Missile Wing commander. “This is required to achieve the first priority of accomplishing the mission, because who else but the Airmen are going to accomplish the mission? This is where I realized how important Ms. Johnigan was to F.E. Warren Air Force Base.”
Johnigan was chosen for her selfless contributions, trailblazing efforts, and exemplary representation of the Air Force core values, according to a press release.
Though Johnigan retired from federal service in 1999, she became the first AFA chapter president in the state of Wyoming, focusing on improving the lives of Airmen through dozens of initiatives she had a role in starting, said Bonetti.
Through it all, Johnigan expressed a humble appreciation.
“I stand before you with a great deal of humility, pride, gratitude and appreciation,” said Johnigan. “This honor and tribute that is so incredibly overwhelming that it defies description.”
The Johnigan Center for Airmen and Families is open to support the Airmen of the Mighty Ninety Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.