From crew chief to command chief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  His first assignment was as a C-5 Galaxy flying crew chief at Dover AFB, and now, 20 years later, he's returned as a command chief.

On June 3, 2015, Chief Master Sgt. Keith Davis replaced Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell as the 436th Airlift Wing command chief.

"[Dover AFB] was my first assignment, it's like I've come full circle," Davis said. "I never thought I would return once I left, however, once I found out I was, it was rather surreal to return to the base where it all started."

But who exactly is Chief Davis?

Throughout his career, Davis has accumulated seven different Air Force Specialty Codes, including aircraft maintenance, personnel, personnel systems management, Professional Military Education instructor, Airman Leadership School commandant, and first sergeant. Besides Dover AFB, he has been assigned to numerous bases and units, including Lackland AFB, Texas, Sheppard AFB, Texas, Columbus AFB, Mississippi, Randolph AFB, Texas, Tyndall AFB, Florida, Keesler AFB, Mississippi, Travis AFB, California, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates. He also has numerous deployments and joint tours in support of Operations: Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Restore Hope, Support Hope, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

Prior to his current assignment, Davis served as the superintendent of the 314th Recruiting Squadron, located in Burlington, New Jersey; overseeing operations in five states spread across 29,886 square-miles.

As the 436th AW command chief, Davis's responsibilities are to serve as the principle advisor to Col. Michael Grismer, 436th AW commander, on matters of welfare, readiness, morale and the effective employment of the wing's 3,800 enlisted members.

"The Airmen of Team Dover have an amazing team spirit and an immense dedication to the wing and its mission," said Davis. "They are the most innovative team I've seen all in one single place that I've come across in my entire 24-year career."

Davis has high expectations for the Eagle Wing's Airmen.

"I would tell Team Dover's Airmen that as long as you remember our job is to serve; whether that is the mission, your Airmen/Wingmen, and especially our nation as a whole, then that perspective and attitude will carry you very far throughout your career," he said.

Davis also discussed goals he has for himself while he serves in his new position:

"I firmly and truly believe that you should leave a place better than you found it," said Davis. "You should make the Airmen under your charge better for having met and served alongside you and you should also make yourself better and leave here more personally and professionally developed than when you arrived."

Davis also looks forward to working with his new boss and wing commander, Col. Grismer.

"Col. Grismer is no doubt a high-energy and on-the-move commander who is extremely interactive and cares about Team Dover's Airmen and our mission partners," he said. "From day one, he has shown by his actions that he boldly stands behind his people, mission and family-oriented priorities. There's never a dull moment with Col. Grismer and he keeps me on my game by challenging me to find ways to make Team Dover better and ensures that I'm always taking the pulse of the base and our Airmen."

Chief Davis looks forward to serving as the Eagle Wing's command chief for the foreseeable future. At the same time he said he will often look back to when he was a young Airmen serving at his first base where he tacked on his first stripes, was introduced to his first supervisor, flew on his first mission and where his youngest son was born.  

"This is where I became an Airman and where I was introduced to the operational Air Force," he said. "For me, this is as good as it gets; no other assignment has been more meaningful to me than Dover Air Force Base."