News

Crew chiefs dedicated to excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Eleven C-17 Globemaster III maintainers were inducted as Dedicated Crew Chiefs in a ceremony Sept. 6 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

The title is awarded to maintainers that distinguish themselves among their peers. DCCs are assigned a hand-picked crew and an aircraft for which they are solely responsible for maintaining. They are immediately recognizable on the flightline by their navy blue coveralls with their aircraft's tail number embroidered on the back.

"The vision for the DCC program at [Dover AFB] is to maintain our dynasty of greatness," said Maj. Justin Radford, commander of the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We currently have the newest, best planes in the fleet, and in 10 years, I expect us to still possess the best planes in the fleet thanks to our dedicated maintainers."

The objective of the DCC program is to directly assign a maintainer to each aircraft to provide continuity and accuracy of aircraft forms, aircraft status and scheduled maintenance, and to improve aircraft appearance. DCCs create their own work schedules according to the availability of their dedicated aircraft - when the plane is at home station, the crews are on the clock.

The recipients are selected on the basis of initiative, management and leadership ability and technical knowledge. The 11 DCCs and their crews inducted Sept. 6 were the best of the best, said Tech. Sgt. Glenn Bull, who oversaw the selection process.

"It was difficult to sort through the names. All told, I think we considered more than 115 people for the job," said Bull. "The maintainers that were selected are masters in their career field, selected for their performance, quality assurance, and attitude, and how bad they wanted it."

DCCs also serve as role models for the Airmen they lead, transferring valuable experience, knowledge and advanced training, including that taught to flying crew chiefs, unto those who will someday take their place.

I wake up with pride knowing that I work alongside my crew on the C-17, said Master Sgt. Rodney Scott, dedicated C-17 crew chief with the 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. As a DCC, I feel a connection to my aircraft; I watch it take off carrying people and cargo, and know me and my crew are responsible for their safety.

With the induction of a DCC and crew for each C-17 at Dover AFB, members of the 3rd Airlift Squadron, responsible for launching C-17 missions from Dover AFB, say their mission readiness will increase knowing their aircraft are in good hands.

The program provides peace of mind to aircrews because it puts a face to the aircraft; we know who the direct points of contact are for maintaining the planes, and we know they care, said Lt. Col. James DeHaan, commander of the 3rd AS. DCCs' pride in ownership produces high-quality results, and inspires confidence in our aircrews.

The selected crew chiefs:
Tech. Sgt. Jered Bezemek
Staff Sgt. William Goede
Staff Sgt. Justin Hicks
Staff Sgt. Ryan Hobbs
Tech. Sgt. Jerry McKellop II
Staff Sgt. William Pack
Staff Sgt. David Rodriguez
Master Sgt. Rodney Scott
Staff Sgt. Adrian Vargo
Staff Sgt. Steven Weaver
Staff Sgt. Chris Wigley