501st welcomes new Senior NCOs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Bumpus
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  On Friday, 18 August 2017, the 501st Combat Support Wing, saw ten of its members enter a new stage of their career as they took part in a Senior Noncommissioned Officer induction ceremony.


The primary focus of a SNCO is mission accomplishment, and this ceremony marks the transition from the tactical level to operational and strategic levels of leadership.


As the ceremony drew to a close, Chief Master Sgt. Lori Gawan, 501st CSW Command Chief, laid out the Air Force’s new expectations to the inductees, and each inductee acknowledged to uphold and carry out their responsibilities in Air Force 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure.


The responsibilities of a SNCO are very different to what is expected of other Airmen.  They must translate the directions of their leaders into concrete tasks, inspire those around them, be visible leaders, examples for others to emulate, and caring mentors to all by sharing their knowledge, experience and wisdom.


“Be knowable,” said Senior Master Sgt. Travis Laws, the Superintendent for Operational Compliance for the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and the induction ceremony’s guest speaker. “Change what you can, and find balance through doing something you love. As a SNCO you must be that person who has a rock solid knowledge base, you know your job inside and out, you are the person people come to for answers. You must set the example in every way; you must stay composed because panic costs precious time and leads down false trails. You must be the example of a leader in control, consciously examining every option.”


As our new SNCOs prepare to shoulder their new responsibilities and to guide the Airmen who surround them, please join us in congratulating:


TSgt Yara Hernandez

TSgt David Jackson

MSgt Mathew James

TSgt James Elliot

TSgt Michael McQueen

MSgt Desmond Hunter East

TSgt Alicia Audi

TSgt Charles Swaggart

MSgt Lance Caldwell

TSgt Ebony McGary