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🛡️ Brooke McLean, a retired Air Force veteran, has led the Air Force Enlisted Village for a decade after stepping up unexpectedly when former CEO Jim Binnicker passed away.
🏗️ McLean oversaw the expansion of the senior living community, including the completion of Village Five, Village Six during the pandemic, and the planned Village Seven.
🌍 The Village is expanding to serve all military branches through the Victory Village project, aimed at creating inclusive housing for veterans, including Wounded Warriors.
SHALIMAR — Brooke McLean never envisioned leading a senior living community for retired military members. But after 10 years as president and CEO of the Air Force Enlisted Village, he calls it the most rewarding chapter of his life.
McLean, a retired Air Force veteran who joined the military at age 19 and served for 30 years in logistics and senior enlisted leadership roles, said his journey to the top of the nonprofit organization was both unexpected and humbling.
“I never would have imagined being in this position to begin with — especially for as long as I’ve been here,” he said. “But it’s been an amazing journey.”
McLean joined the Air Force Enlisted Village in 2013, shortly after retiring from active duty. At the time, his friend and predecessor, the late Jim Binnicker recruited him to the Air Force Enlisted Village.
What began as a role in marketing and development quickly changed when Binnicker fell ill.
“Binnicker was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, and he passed away within three months,” McLean said. “We didn’t have a number two. Someone had to step up.”
McLean became interim CEO in 2015 and was later appointed permanently. Over the next decade, he helped shape the Enlisted Village through both steady leadership and ambitious expansion.
Among his early accomplishments was completing Village Five, a project Binnicker began before his passing. That was followed by the development and opening of Village Six during the COVID-19 pandemic — a process McLean called “very challenging.”
“Campus-wide, we were isolated to protect our residents,” he said. “But we still had to finish construction and move people in. We filled it quickly, and it’s been a terrific addition.”
The Air Force Enlisted Village, located in Shalimar, serves retired enlisted Air Force members and their surviving spouses. McLean said the guiding philosophy is the “mom rule”: treat every resident as if they were your own mother.
That culture of care, he said, is Binnicker’s most enduring legacy.
In recent years, McLean and his team have focused on expanding services to include members of other military branches. One of the most ambitious efforts is the ongoing Victory Village project, a proposed senior living community for veterans from all branches, including those with disabilities, such as Wounded Warriors.
“We were able to get authorization from Congress to buy the land, and we completed that purchase last year,” he said. “That alone was a six-year process.”
The Okaloosa County Commission recently approved a request to change the land use designation, a necessary step before construction can begin.
Pending state approval, the Village will continue to work with the county on zoning and infrastructure, including improvements to sewer and water capacity in the Poquito Bayou area.
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The next chapter at the Enlisted Village includes plans for Village Seven, a 51-unit addition, and a potential new community open to the general public.
“There are a lot of people in the area who want to live in a place like Bob Hope Village but don’t qualify,” McLean said. “We’re exploring the idea of a traditional retirement community that shares our values and commitment to resident care.”
Reflecting on his time at the helm, McLean said the role combines real estate development, healthcare and hospitality — all in service of a deeply meaningful mission.
“If you’re having a bad day in the office, all you need to do is go talk with the residents,” he said. “You’ll get hugs, and you’ll remember why you’re here. It makes you feel good.”
McLean said he’s proud of how far the Village has come — and excited for what’s ahead.
“We’ve built on the foundation Chief Binnicker laid,” he said. “And we’re not done yet.”
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