Team Dover welcomes new chiefs with ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Chief master sergeants are an elite group, consisting of only the top one percent of the Air Force's total enlisted servicemembers. This group is open only to those who truly excel at their duties.

Team Dover's chiefs welcomed eight new members into their group Feb. 25, 2011, at the Chief Master Sergeant Recognition Banquet at The Landings Club.

The new chiefs were welcomed by their fellow chiefs during the formal induction ceremony. The night began with social hour followed by the official announcement and entry of the new chiefs under an arch of swords.

Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) Kevin Cullen, global initiatives manager for Wesley College, spoke at the ceremony and stressed the importance chiefs have in their units.

"Chiefs are the engine that drives the unit toward excellence," said Chief Cullen. "Chiefs have to have the big picture in mind. When they get together, they ask each other 'what does the wing need at this point in time?'"

He also stressed the importance chiefs have with their subordinates, and how the praise of a chief can really boost the morale of their troops.

"You have to catch people doing things right," said Chief Cullen. "You have to recognize people to keep that excellence going strong. I knew for a fact I could influence my troops and their excellence."

Chief Cullen also spoke of his time as a chief and how the skills he learned helped him with his career after his retirement.

"Everything I learned to do for the jobs I had after my service, I learned as a senior noncommissioned officer," said Chief Cullen.

There was also a candle lighting ceremony that followed the path the chiefs had taken through the enlisted ranks. Each candle represented a rank, the chiefs had earned from airman basic to chief master sergeant, and the how they formed the foundation to becoming a chief.

The night ended with the new chiefs undertaking the "chief's charge", an oath to uphold all that it means to be the top enlisted tier of the Air Force.

The new chief master sergeant selects are:
· Senior Master Sgt. Darrell Sanderson, 436th Operation Support Squadron aircraft flight equipment superintendant.
· Senior Master Sgt. Michael Forgue, 436th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight superintendent.
· Senior Master Sgt. Paul Hughes, 436th Aerial Port Squadron first sergeant
· Senior Master Sgt. Robert Wright, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance unit superintendent.
· Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Ordway, 512th Maintenance Squadron aircraft systems maintenance manager.
· Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Smith, 512th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight chief.
· Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Campbell, 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent and first sergeant.
· Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Haney, 512 MXS fabrication flight chief.