The Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council during its April 16 monthly meeting will host as guest speaker Colonel Spencer C. Cocanour, Vice Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field.
The 24th SOW is the only wing in the Air Force dedicated to Special Tactics Airmen, providing precision strike, global access, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery, per the USAF.
Colonel Cocanour graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts and received his commission in 1995 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He began his career as an electrical engineer responsible for test and evaluation, systems program research and engineering, and program management related to aircraft electronic warfare systems and MILSATCOM communication terminals. He retrained into the Special Tactics Officer (STO) career field in 2001 and became certified in static line and military freefall parachuting, air traffic control, and underwater operations. Additionally, Colonel Cocanour has served as a Political-Military Affairs Officer while assigned to US Pacific Command and Special Operations Command – Pacific. Operationally, Colonel Cocanour served as the chief of staff for Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM – Philippines, and commanded special tactics squadrons while assigned to the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He is married to Captain Amy Cocanour, United States Coast Guard, according to his biography.
Cocanour has been awarded the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Joint Service Achievement Medal.
The luncheon, sponsored by David & Melisa Hoar, owners of Vine Wine Bar & Shop in Navarre, will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 16 at Beach Community Bank’s community room, located at 9290 Navarre Parkway.
Guests are welcome to attend. For more information contact TJ Goulet at ceo@greaternavarrechamber.com or (850) 397-4120.
The Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on spreading awareness and advocating for support of our military community. Membership in the “MAC” is $75.00, annually, and 100% of that fee is reinvested in support of a variety of military related efforts. To qualify for membership in the MAC you must also me a member of the Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce. If you are not yet a member of the Chamber, you can learn more about joining here.