‘Combined’ effort equals greater success Published Sept. 24, 2014 By Col. Shawn Fairhurst 45th Space Wing Vice Commander PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- So far it has been a great first three months for me as the 45th Space Wing vice commander. The Sharks of the 45th have always had a great reputation throughout the command and we proved it again by successfully launching two rockets in one week, both going off without a hitch despite Mother Nature's efforts to the contrary! So thank you for making it look easy and ensuring 100 percent mission success. We got it done right and it was no accident. It takes individual excellence and dedication to service to make our team great and even though there is a bit of a lull in the upcoming launch schedule, there is still an opportunity for continued service to Team Patrick-Cape. This opportunity occurs behind the scenes, is individual in nature and offers help to those who need it. I'm talking about the Combined Federal Campaign, which kicks off Oct. 1. The beauty of this program is you are in driver's seat with your contribution and you pick how much you want to give and who you want to give it too. I know these are uncertain times for many of us, but even the smallest of donations or payroll deductions can make all the difference in the world for those who need the help. Since the late 1950s, when President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10728, the Combined Federal Campaign has continued to be an employee-focused, effective method in providing all Federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for those in need. Today, the charter for the CFC remains unchanged and I would like to tap into that same "can-do" attitude we take toward launch and shift it toward helping us meet this year's program goal of $150,000. You may think we are biting off a bit more than we can chew, but that is what we 'Sharks' do! Hitting this goal won't be easy...that's where Team Patrick-Cape and all our mission partners come in. We have answered the call time and time again, and we feel confident we'll pull together, and deliver another successful mission during the month-long CFC campaign. Stay Focused and "Embrace Your Sharkness!"