So Ya Wanna Be THE Chief?!

Rochelle Hemingway is a retired U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, CEO and Founder of SLAY To Success®️, and a transformational speaker dedicated to helping leaders elevate their visibility, influence, and impact. During her 30-year Air Force career, she served as a senior enlisted advisor, mentoring and advocating for thousands of Airmen while helping commanders lead through complex ch...

Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Martha Dunning served as the Chief Enlisted Manager of Air, Space and Information Operations A3 Directorate for First Air Force Air Forces Northern, Air Forces Space, Tyndall AFB, FL upon her retirement in May 2026. She was the lead Functional Area Manager for all Battle Manager Operators in the Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region Enterprise....

CMSgt Patrick Cone is the Senior Enlisted Leader, 372d Recruiting Group, Riverdale, Utah. He is the primary senior enlisted advisor to the commander for operation effectiveness, readiness, and professional development. He also manages and directs resource activities; interprets and enforces policies and applicable directives to meet mission requirements. Additionally, he oversees and advises on th...

Darrius T. Smith, widely known by his nickname “Smitty,” is a military veteran, visionary leader, and the architect of the revolutionary ST4Y READY Blueprint for authentic leadership. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Darrius forged a distinguished twenty-five-year career in the United States Air Force. Smitty’s leadership style is rooted in purpose-driven leadership and a growth mindset...

Lt Col Gilberto “Coach” Perez is a senior cyber and technology leader with 19 years of experience driving U.S. Air Force IT enterprise operations, digital transformation, and cyber workforce development. As Deputy Commander of the 690th Cyberspace Operations Group, he helps lead 1,900 personnel delivering secure global connectivity to hundreds of thousands of users across more than 180 countries....

Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Bryan Tuman grew up in southern Minnesota and entered the Air Force in the spring of 1993. Upon graduation from Basic Training, he attended the Air Force Medical Service School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Chief Tuman’s contributions across the Air Force include assignments as a Professional Military Education Instructor, First Sergeant, and Command Chief Mast...

Joe Bogdan is a leadership educator, speaker, and lifelong student of self-mastery. He serves as Chief Learning Officer for Connecting Heads to Hearts (C2H), helping organizations develop leaders who align what they know in their heads with how they show up from their hearts. He also works as a Strategic HR Business Partner for a Fortune 200 company, where he supports senior leaders and organizati...

Chief Dan Hall returns as RETIRED Chief Dan Hall! Recently retired Chief Hall shares his thoughts on the transition process that all Chiefs eventually go through and how he handled, and is handling, it. 

Chief (Retired) Amber Houghton returns to share thoughts and experiences about another of her passions, Seek Help! One thing Chiefs or other senior leaders don't do very well is take care of themselves as they know they should. They're too busy taking care of others. But what happens when you can't give any more? Seek help! We don't, but we should!

Captain Aryemis Brown is a multi-domain warfare officer in the United States Space Force. He holds a Ph. D. in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.

CMSgt (Ret) Dr. José A. Lugo Santiago, a proud U.S. Air Force Veteran and a visionary executive leader, founded LS|EG. With over 20 years of extensive experience, he excels in Strategy, Project and Change Management, and Business Process Re-engineering. He has successfully led large organizations, managing up to 10,000 personnel in dynamic, fast-paced environments. His expertise encompasses managi...

Lt Col Joshua Larson is the Commander of Cadet Squadron 31, U.S Air Force Academy, Colorado. In his current role, he is responsible for leading and developing warfighters of character and quality for the Unites States’ Air and Space Forces. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Computer Science in May of 2011 and served as the commander of the 9th Communications Sq...

CMSgt (Ret) Steve Burns entered the Air Force on 25 Jul 1984, after proficiency advancing through basic training (15 training days). After completing tech training, he was assigned to Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, MS, where he served as a medical service technician for the first 9 years of his career.  He served as a PME Instructor at NCO Academy and ALS levels, as the Superintendent of the Ai...

CMSgt (Ret) Amber Houghton is a Leadership Under Pressure Coach and 28-year USAF veteran specializing in tactical performance for football programs and high-stakes teams. She trains athletes, coaches, and parents to lead with emotional discipline, focused intensity, and mission-driven clarity - skills grounded in military command principles and refined through real field application. 

CMSgt (Ret) Billie Baber returns to discuss the plight of homeless veterans, a term that we all agree shouldn't exist, but it does, and Chief Baber is right in the thick of it, still serving those in need and setting a great example for all of us to emulate.  

Known as The Fired Up Chief, CMSgt (Ret) Juan (Lou) Lewis, is one of CMSgt (Ret) Bob Vásquez’s first proteges. Chief Lewis was a SSgt when he met Chief Vásquez at March AFB, CA in 1991. Chief Vásquez has been Chief Lewis’s mentor ever since. Chief Lewis culminated 28 years of distinguished service as a Command Chief. 

CMSgt (Ret) Tim Bayes is the Founder & Leadership Consultant at Yes…You, LLC. Tim is a visionary leader, U.S. Air Force veteran, and seasoned executive with over 26 years of experience guiding large-scale operations, infrastructure programs, and organizational transformation. Holding a Master of Public Policy and Project Management Professional certification, he has led diverse teams of up to...

CMSgt (Ret) Dr Emily Shade was raised in Oregon, joined USAF in 1994, and retired in 2018. Married to Jeromy, they have a 14-year-old son, Kambell, in the house and daughter, Kiyana, who is Active Duty USAF and stationed at Fairchild AFB. Dr Shade is currently serving as the civilian Director of A9 for the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. She's an avid reader, beekeeper, and hiker. 

Captain Pierce Risinger is a USAF Maintenance Officer who is transitioning to the Acquisition field. He received his commission in 2021 from the United States Air Force Academy. He has held a variety of maintenance assignments at the squadron and group levels supporting F-16C/D and HH-60G/W maintenance. During previous operational assignments, he led combat sortie generation, aircraft maintenance,...

CMSgt (Ret) Dr. Keith Castille currently serves as co-owner of C2H, LLC and independent contractor advising on force development, policy creation and implementation, and a wide range of business solutions. Keith is a retired veteran, having served 28 ½ years to this great nation as a valued member of the United States Air Force. While on active duty, Keith served in the highest enlisted grade as a...

Lt Col Jennifer A. Lugo (formerly Suarez), USAF Retired, is the 502 Force Support Squadron Community Services Flight Chief, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Lugo currently leads a diverse team of nearly 500 NAF and APF employees, overseeing separate morale, welfare, and recreation activities spread across Randolph, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, Camp Bullis and Canyon Lake locat...

We go directly to the AOR to chat with these two great and young Chiefs! 

Chief Master Sergeant Patrick A. Hunt serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Center for Character and Leadership Development at Headquarters, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. In this capacity, he plays a pivotal role in enhancing the understanding and application of effective character and leadership development practices across military, academic, and athletic environments for cad...

David Satchell was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. After enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1990, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and his Masters in Human Resources at Central Michigan University. Satch navigated the ranks to become a Command Chief Master Sergeant and finished his duty at the Pentagon as an advisor and enlisted cabal to the Secretary of the Air Force...

Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Billie Baber dedicated 26 years to the United States Air Force, enlisting in 1996 and culminating her career as the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 960th Cyberspace Wing before her retirement in January 2023.    A committed advocate for veterans, Billie is especially passionate about supporting homeless veterans and advancing initiatives that uphold human digni...