HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The Hanscom Chief’s Group recognized two brand new chief master sergeants during a ceremony at the Minuteman Commons May 31. Both officially pinned on their new rank June 1.
Chief Master Sgts. Jessica McWain and Stephen Leonard are members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron
“Each of these outstanding Airmen worked incredibly hard throughout their careers to reach this honor,” said Chief Master Sgt. Henry Hayes, installation command chief. “I have the utmost confidence that these two chief master sergeants will make the Air Force stronger and more effective for years to come. Due to their caliber of infectious competence and character, I expect them to draw greatness and miracles out of everyone they encounter as chiefs.”
McWain, who is the Operations and Training superintendent for SFS, spoke about reaching the top one percent of enlisted Airmen.
“It's hard to even capture the gravity of what it means, but suffice to say it feels like the start of a new chapter in the story of my life and service,” said McWain.
McWain likened it to beginning her career in 2000.
“I will still be connected in every way to who I am and what I've done, but starting the adventure all over again,” she said. “Now instead of the teenager boarding a bus in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, ready for anything but uncertain what the future holds, I'll be a chief master sergeant, still ready for anything, but now I'm aware, trained and lethal.”
In her role as superintendent, McWain is responsible for the active duty Airmen and Department of the Air Force Police who secure, protect and defend the installation. She is also responsible for squadron training and military working dog operations.
McWain has held several positions throughout her career in Security Forces. She has also held special duty assignments as a first sergeant and professional military education instructor.
“I hope to carry on the legacy of never walking by a problem, and never being too busy to take action,” McWain said. “As a chief, I'll have even more ability to effect positive change at my unit level and, ideally, at higher levels.”
Leonard, who has been the individual mobilization augmentee with Security Forces, spoke about reaching this milestone.
“This is the culmination of a career of hard work, commitment and sacrifice,” he said. “It is a tribute to my wife, my family, supervisors, commanders, mentors and everyone who supported me throughout my career and enabled me to succeed and attain this incredible achievement.”
Leonard will soon become 902nd Security Forces Squadron IMA to the SF manager at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas.
“I am very excited to perform my duties as a security forces manager to enable our Defenders to accomplish their mission,” Leonard said.
Throughout his career, Leonard, who enlisted in 1989, has held many positions in multiple career fields, including production control specialist, enlisted aviator, air traffic controller and Security Forces Defender.
According to an Air Force Materiel Command article from 2009, the first promotions to chief master sergeant took place on Dec. 1, 1959, when 620 Airmen were elevated to that rank. The Career Compensation Act of 1958 created the chief master sergeant and senior master sergeant rank. Prior to 1958 master sergeant was the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force.