BLACKHAWKS & BEYOND: CEO Students Tour the Army Aviation Support Facility
This morning, CEO students had the unique opportunity to tour the National Guard Readiness Center and Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at the Greater Kankakee Airport. Led by Chief Herb Stevens, the tour provided an in-depth look at the operations of this impressive, state-of-the-art complex, the largest of the three AASF locations in Illinois.
Formerly based at Midway Airport in Chicago, the facility relocated to Kankakee in 2018 and now serves as home to two aviation battalions and a medevac unit. Chief Stevens shared valuable insights into the many career paths available within the Illinois National Guard and the facility’s critical role in both national readiness and local economic impact, particularly on weekends when troops train on-site.
Students were thrilled to explore several aircraft up close, including the Blackhawk helicopters, and gained a new appreciation for the innovation, scale, and purpose behind this $64.6 million LEED-certified facility. This is what the CEO program is all about - learning about our community, and the many opportunities right here in our backyard. Thank you to Chief Stevens for taking time out of his day to give a tour to the CEO program; we are grateful for the experience and his service.
5/6/25
