HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Chief Master Sgt. William “Bill” Hebb became the installation’s command chief master sergeant following his arrival here earlier this month.
As the command chief, Hanscom’s senior enlisted Airman is officially responsible for advising Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, as well as directors and senior leaders, on matters concerning the welfare, health, morale and training of the enlisted force. However, he intends to help all members of the Hanscom team.
“I’m here to take care of our service members, civilians, contractors and their families,” said Hebb. “Together we can break down barriers, find a way around them, or go right through them to ensure our people have what they need.”
The newest member of the 66th Air Base Group command staff said he is eager to immerse himself into Team Hanscom and begin building on the partnerships both on and off the installation. With a background of service in the Air Force Materiel Command, Hebb said he’s confident he can bridge the missions across the base.
“My operational experience, both within and out of AFMC, really helps me understand the mission here,” he said. “I understand the diversity of our workforce and our mission partners, and the intricacies that come with that.”
In addition to bringing the base safely back to full capacity, Hebb wants to continue building and fostering the relationships between the base and surrounding communities through professional development and creating resources, all by including the base and local communities in the process.
“I want to maximize our diversity and inclusion across our community,” he said. “We must ensure that every person here has a voice, feels part of the team, and has opportunities for success and to reach their full potential.”
The West Virginia native is joined at Hanscom by his wife, Laurie, and the youngest of their three children. He said they have never been to the Northeast, but look forward to the autumn foliage and exploring all of New England.
“We’ve only ever heard great things about this base and this area,” he said. “We plan to see it all.”
The chief describes his personal leadership style as “agile and flexible,” and said he works to adapt to the situation at hand.
“I believe you have to be able to flex from one approach to another to really become a better leader,” he said. “You have to see the person in front of you and tailor your approach to what will help them best.”
Hebb credits three of his own mentors for instilling in him how to properly care for people, approach hard topics and think strategically. He said his philosophy as a leader is to always leave things better than he found them.
“Whether its relationships, a place, a policy or procedure, try to make them better,” he said. “Our people matter, and I can’t wait to serve with them and for them.”