So Ya Wanna Be THE Chief?!

Originally from Bellevue, Nebraska, MSgt Faith Donavon has served in the USAF for over 18 years in Services career field.  She has worked as a DFAC Manager, Fitness Center NCOIC, Mortuary Affairs Dress and Restoration Section Lead, as well as a General's Enlisted Aide and Unit Deployment Manager.  Her functional expertise is why she now works as the Commander's Action Group Superintenden...

MSgt Pete Ruiz, who is an Academy Military Trainer at the Air Force Academy and who has served as an Exec for several Command Chiefs, shares his thoughts on Acknowledging Presence, You Don't Know Everything, and Network lessons in the book.

SMSgt (First Sergeant/Retired) Nicole Brown shares her thoughts and perspectives on how effective Chiefs realize that they "don't know everything" (lesson # 2), based on her experience. 

CMSgt Sharla Kostielney is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. She is the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning the readiness, training, morale, health, welfare, effective utilization, and discipline for nearly 4,000 military. Malmstrom Airmen support the nation’s nuclear surety objectives by operating, maintaining, and...

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. She serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfa...

Chief Master Sergeant Philip B. McAlpin Jr., is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. Chief McAlpin serves as the commander’s principle advisor on all enlisted matters in professional development, manpower, training, and readiness. He is entrusted with ensuring 320 highly trained Total Force Engineers and 44 mobility teams are...

Chief Master Sergeant James Pope is the acting Command Chief of the 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, Maryland. In this role, he advises the commander on all enlisted matters and on issues regarding the welfare, readiness, utilization, morale, and quality of life for personnel across five wings, three headquarters, and over 80 tenant organizations, as well as 60,000 m...

 Chief Master Sergeant Carlos Sanchez is assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as the Chief Enlisted Manager of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight. He leads 54 military and civilian Airmen in support of the Air Force’s largest fighter wing mission, consisting of F-16 and F-35 aircraft operating on the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Military Trai...

Chief Master Sergeant Reynaldo Garcia, Jr., is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 96th Communications Squadron, 96th Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base Florida. He leads 345 military, civilian and contract personnel performing Cyber Defense and Communications support vital to Eglin’s $4 billion weapons Research, Development, Test and Evaluation mission. He guides the management, operations and sustai...

Chief Master Sgt. James Seballes served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), temporarily located at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. STARCOM was established as a Field Command 23 August 2021.  The command is responsible for preparing, developing, and delivering more than 8,600 Guardians to enable the United States Space Force to prevail in competition...

Chief Master Sergeant Karmann-Monique Pogue serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), temporarily headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. STARCOM was established as a Field Command 23 August 2021. The command is responsible for preparing, developing, and delivering more than 8,600 Guardians to enable the United States Space Force to prevail...

Chief Master Sergeant Candi R. Schneider is the United States Space Force First Sergeant, Headquarters United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. Serves as advisor to the CMSSF, CSO, and Air Force Element Leaders on the readiness, health, wellness, morale, and quality of life of all assigned Air Force Personnel. She works closely with Air and Space Forces Senior Enl...

Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Robinson is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 100th Mission Support Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He is the principle advisor to the commander on all enlisted matters influencing the readiness, morale, and welfare of the enlisted force spanning the full range of diversified personnel and support programs to 1,600 total force Airmen. Chief Robinson...

Chief Master Sergeant Keith Castille serves as Senior Enlisted Leader, Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Talent Management Cell, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He delivers Department of the Air Force talent management initiatives and develops Air Force-level policy and procedures across talent management life cycles. Chief Castille oversees research and analysis te...

CMSgt Allison L. Garces is the Administration and Management Superintendent at the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Pentagon, Washington D.C. She assists in a wide range of manpower and personnel, administrative, and executive support actions and the provision of senior enlisted viewpoints on policy issues, Department of Defense issuances, and rele...

Chief Master Sergeant Joe Bogdan is the Chief of Enlisted Force Development, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He leads and coordinates enlisted leadership and developmental efforts to address the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force priorities. He shapes foundational policy, programs, and guidance and drives strategic initiatives...

Chief Master Sergeant Adam J. Boubede is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 86th Civil Engineer Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Civil Engineer Group Commander on matters influencing readiness, morale, health, wellness, training, effective utilization, and professional development of 1,234 military and civilian personnel spanning two squadrons and...

DJ Vanas, an internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author, is a powerhouse speaker for Fortune 500 companies, hundreds of tribal nations, and over 7000 audiences nationwide. He has also spoken at the White House. More important than all of that is that he’s my Chosen Brother! He wrote the foreword to my book, So Ya Wanna Be THE Chief?! , and has mentored me in several areas of my life....