Reserve pararescue chief retires after serving 32 years

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Dowridge
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FLA. --  After serving in the Air Force Reserve for 32 years, Chief Master Sgt. Douglas Kestranek, 308th Rescue Squadron chief enlisted manager, retired during a ceremony April 11 at Patrick.

Friends, family and Reserve comrades poured into the Base Theater and watched as Kestranek received his symbolic retirement pin.

The presiding officer, Maj. Chad Senior, commander, 308th Rescue Squadron, shared comical and nostalgic stories of the chief and personally thanked his family for their sacrifice and support throughout his military career.

During his career, Kestranek deployed in support of Operations Just Cause, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. He was also involved in many Joint Task Force operations, including those in support of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. He also supported every NASA Space Shuttle launch and recovery since 2001.

Kestranek served as a pararescue technician with the active Air Force for eight years before transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in 1991. He served as the chief enlisted manager with the 920th Rescue Wing here, since October 2007. 

"Chief Kestranek was focused on one thing, the Airmen," said Senior. "He was absolutely relentless in advocating for his Airmen. If you were in his scope of influence, he was going to fight for you. And no one did it better than him."

As if on cue, Kestranek was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his integral part in the successful reshaping of the awards and recognition program within the 308th RQS.

According to the award verbiage, he was responsible for overseeing ten 920th RQW 'Airmen of the Quarter' winners, eight 920th RQW 'Airmen of the Year' winners, four Air Force Reserve Command 'Pararescumen of the Year' winners, four Mackay Trophy recipients, one Vanguard Award recipient, one Pitsenbarger Award recipient and one Air Force 'Outstanding Airmen of the Year' winner.

"The men and women you served are painfully aware they have lost an inspirational leader and tenacious warrior," said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Traska, pararescueman, 308th RQS. "The American society however, has gained a powerful citizen."

Commemorating Kestranek's retirement, combat rescue officers Maj. Jim Sluder and Maj. Gabriel Hensley, 308th RQS, conducted a flag-folding ceremony. For each fold of the American flag, Traska honored fallen heroes by reciting their name and rank. Hensley presented Kestranek with the flag at the end of the, after which; Kestranek presented the flag to his wife Lori.

It was then Lori's turn to give something to Kestranek; she punched the official retirement pin to his dress blue uniform coat, symbolizing his transition from active reserve duty to retired status.

Toward the end of the ceremony, chiefs from throughout the wing took center stage to congratulate the retiring chief as did the Space Coast Chief's Group.

After all the formality, Kestranek thanked his family and friends for their solid support during the past three decades. He presented each of his family members with a Hawaiian lei and shared a stories of how each of them impacted his life.

"If I were a Spartan warrior," said Kestranek, "I would've been one of the first of the 300 to be chosen based on the strength of my wife."

Kestranek then led the crowd in a round of applause for all veterans and his 920th RQW family.

"To everyone in the 920th, you've all touched my life," said Kestranek. "It's been my greatest honor serving as your chief."