New Chiefs on the block

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The rank of chief master sergeant is the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. Being promoted to Chief can be considered the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted career. A new wave of chief master sergeants have been selected and the Chief Master Sergeant Promotion List was released Nov. 3.

Out of the more than 2,000 senior master sergeants eligible for a promotion to chief master sergeant, approximately 487 were selected Air Force-wide. Of those 487 selectees, eight are members of the Desert Lightening Team.

"It is an absolutely incredible accomplishment to earn promotion to the Air Force's highest enlisted grade," said Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Howard, 355th Fighter Wing command chief. "The selectees have demonstrated the highest levels of service to the nation, the Air Force mission and to their fellow Airmen."

The senior master sergeants from D-M who earned promotion to the rank of chief master sergeant are:

· SMSgt Michael Atkins, 48th Rescue Squadron
· SMSgt Stephen Castellanos, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· SMSgt George Flaig, 12th Air Force
· SMSgt Darryl Livanec, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· SMSgt David Ortegon, 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron
· SMSgt Basil Payne, 355th Dental Squadron
· SMSgt Paul Pohnert, 612th Air Communications Squadron
· SMSgt John Russell, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

"These Airmen did not get promoted to Chief Master Sergeant based on a year or two of strong performance," Howard said. "It is the culmination of a career spanning multiple decades built on success after success; these are Airmen that have refused to rest upon previous laurels."

The Chief-selects gathered in Heritage Park where they were congratulated by members of the Chiefs Group and fellow Airmen from their squadrons.

"I am proud of them all and at the same time, excited to see how they will blend their talents and skills into the Air Force's senior enlisted leadership team," Howard said.