The Airman and Family Readiness Center at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., was renamed the Johnigan Center for Airmen and Families in honor of Irene Johnigan by the 90th Missile Wing on June 18.
Johnigan, a long-time supporter of F.E. Warren Air Force Base Airmen and the surrounding community, was the former AFA Cowboy Chapter President. Among the attendees at the ceremony were many who directly benefited from her nearly 50 years of federal service, and who also reaped rewards from her steadfast involvement with the Air Force Association and other service organizations.
The Johnigan Center for Airmen and Families serves as an education and referral center for single, married, Active-duty, Guard, Reserve, retired members, spouses, and families. Some of the programs available include: Employment Assistance, Personal and Family Life Skills Development, Relocation Assistance, Violence Prevention Integrator, and Casualty Assistance and Survivor Benefits.
Col. Peter Bonetti, 90th Missile Wing commander, presented Johnigan with a dedication plaque, recalling, “My second priority when I began command was to develop Airmen and their families, and it wasn’t negotiable. This is required to achieve the first priority of accomplishing the mission, because who else but the Airmen are going to accomplish the mission, and this is where I realized how important [Irene] Johnigan was to F. E. Warren Air Force Base.”
Johnigan was the longest serving Cowboy Chapter President with more than 40 years in the role where she focused efforts on improving the lives of the Warren Airmen and their family members through a number of initiatives. In 2019 she was the 90th MW’s Community Leader of the Year and in 2020, Johnigan was awarded an AFA Chairman’s Citation for distinguished contributions to the Air Force Association in a specific field that has improved and elevated the effectiveness of the Association nationally.
Her trailblazing efforts and contributions to service exemplify the Air Force’s core values.
Johnigan said, “I stand before you with a great deal of humility, pride, gratitude, and appreciation. … This honor and tribute is so incredibly overwhelming that it defies description.”
The center, located at 7601 Randall Avenue, Building 207, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 p.m.