ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Looking to build on ties with the local community, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) welcomed an honorary commander to its Ellsworth Air Force Base detachment, underscoring the agency’s commitment to working alongside law enforcement counterparts during a time of growth and mission evolution at the base.
Rapid City Police Department Lt. Chris Holbrook was selected by Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, to serve as the honorary commander for AFOSI Det. 816. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 2026, but Holbrook will begin his time in the program immediately.
“This is a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the department and the [AFOSI] detachment, as well as help everyone learn more about each other’s missions,” Oakley said.
The appointment marks a first for Ellsworth’s AFOSI detachment and reaffirms the detachment’s commitment to working alongside local law enforcement, said Special Agent Bryce O’Connell, Det. 816 commander.
“This is a huge win for Team Ellsworth as a whole,” said O’Connell, who took command of Det. 816 in June. “But I happened to inherit this, it was Special Agent Ana Brown, our [Individual Mobilization Augmentee], who worked with the team to make it happen. My role now is to provide the support and carry it forward."
The announcement also aligns with major changes at Ellsworth, which is set to become the first base to receive the B-21 Raider, a dual-capable, long-range stealth bomber that represents a generational leap in U.S. strike capability.
While Ellsworth’s role as the first home of the B-21 Raider marks a major milestone for the base, the selection was driven by a desire to align honorary commanders with their counterparts in the local community. In this case, law enforcement.
However, the B-21 program will still inherently reshape the installation's strategic role and deepen a need for partnerships between military and civic institutions, O’Connell said.
“This base’s mission is changing,” he said. “With a new weapons system comes a cultural shift. There are different demands on the base and the community and being able to call our partners in local law enforcement when something happens, shortening those communication lines, that’s going to have a real, positive effect.”
With the B-21 Raider currently scheduled to arrive sometime in the mid-2020s, O’Connell said the need for transparency and cooperation between the military and the local community has become more critical than ever.
“Having strong ties to the community is critical, not just for AFOSI but for the entire Department of the Air Force,” O’Connell said. “This tradition of hosting an honorary commander helps our mission. It brings everyone to the same table.”
For Det. 816, the benefits go both ways.
“This gives us another avenue for senior leader engagement,” O’Connell said. “It allows that leader to understand how we operate, where our missions overlap, and how we get to a common goal. It’s not just symbolic, it’s a constant.”
In addition, the Department of the Air Force is one of the region’s largest employers, making the relationship between the base and its local community both natural and necessary.
Honorary commanders are civic leaders from the local area, selected by the base commander to strengthen the bond between the base and the community through the exchange of ideas, increased understanding of the armed forces and support for mutually beneficial initiatives.
Participants are typically drawn from civic, business, education, law enforcement and other sectors to foster lasting relationships that benefit both the installation and the surrounding region.
Lieutenant Holbrook has nearly 23 years of experience with the Rapid City Police Department, where he currently serves in the Criminal Investigations Division.
“It is incredibly humbling to be selected as an Honorary Commander and continue representing the Rapid City Police Department within the program,” Holbrook said, in a release. “Ellsworth is an asset to Rapid City, and I’m extremely grateful to be in a role to strengthen the relationship between the City of Rapid City and Ellsworth.”
Looking ahead, O’Connell hopes this marks the start of a long-standing tradition at Ellsworth.
“It was very natural to bring in a local police leader,” he said. “And with the support of the wing commander and the relationship we’ve built, this has been a great example of what strong partnership looks like. It’s helped our mission and theirs.”