Former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force visits Travis

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis Air Force Base has the honor of hosting former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley Thursday through Saturday to meet and speak with Travis Airmen ranging through the entire tier of the enlisted force.

McKinley will also meet with the Chief honorees and is the guest speaker at the Chief's Recognition Ceremony today.

McKinley served as the chief master sergeant of the Air Force from June 30, 2006 to Nov. 1, 2009. At the highest non-commissioned officer position, Mckinley served as the personal advisor to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force, according to his official biography.

McKinley will take time to share perspectives with Travis Airmen from all three tiers during the breakfast with Airmen, open discussion with students from class 12-A of Airmen Leadership School and a meeting with the 17 Chief Recognition Ceremony honorees.

"I am honored to be picked to listen to somebody of such high rank," said Airman 1st Class Brenna Spang, 60th Surgical Operations Squadron.

As the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, McKinley's priorities still lie with the progression and guidance of the enlisted force.

"He brings a lot of experience and knowledge to the table," Spang said. "That's something that we can all benefit from"

In addition, the former Chief Master Sgt. will meet with 15 Travis first sergeants and the 615th Contingency Response Wing to speak on the top Air Force issues.
McKinley previously served in the Air Force as a first sergeant, during his visit he made it a point to schedule a meeting with the first sergeant council.

"We (the first sergeant council) are excited to have the opportunity to sit down with a former first sergeant who went on to become chief master sergeant of the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Lisa Williams, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron First Sergeant and president of the first sergeant association. "I'd like to gain his perspective on how being a first sergeant helped him in the role as chief master sergeant of the Air Force."