WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force Materiel Command bid farewell to an esteemed leader and welcomed another as the torch of responsibility was passed from one senior enlisted leader to another.
Chief Master Sgt. David A. Flosi, outgoing AFMC command chief master sergeant, handed over the reins to Chief Master Sgt. James (Bill) E. Fitch II during a Change of Responsibility ceremony Feb. 15, symbolizing the transition of enlisted leadership within the command.
Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, AFMC commander, was the presiding officer during the ceremony.
“Chief Fitch is exactly the right Aiman to be our command chief,” said Richardson. “He has a passion for people and knows how to build and leverage strong relationships to get results. He has a professional curiosity that will help us solve the right problems and seeking the right solutions.”
Fitch is no stranger to AFMC and its mission. He most recently served as command chief at both the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, two units under the AFMC umbrella. With a decorated career spanning decades, Fitch is poised to lead with integrity, compassion, and a focus on the well-being and development of Airmen.
“Thank you to General Richardson for your trust and faith,” said Fitch. “My family and I are very excited to join the AFMC leadership team, and I’m humbled and honored to carry the torch in these historic times.”
The Change of Responsibility ceremony is rich with symbolism and heritage. The key element of the ceremony is the passing of the command’s colors. A military unit is symbolized by the colors in which it fights for, and they represent the lineage and honor of an organization as well as the loyalty and unity of its personnel.
The custodian of the colors is the command chief. The passing of the colors symbolizes the responsibility and authority from Flosi to Fitch.
“Today, we say goodbye to the Flosi family, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re going to miss them,” said Richardson. “He is a trusted confidant and principal advisor, and always took care of our Airmen. You will always be a member of the AFMC family.”
Flosi served with distinction during his tenure, providing steadfast guidance, mentorship, and advocacy for all Airmen within AFMC. Flosi's leadership and forward-thinking initiatives significantly enhanced AFMC's effectiveness and mission success. He was key in establishing AFMC support for the U.S. Space Force, supporting over 15,000 Airmen and Guardians. Flosi also addressed leadership connectivity issues by restructuring senior leader conferences and initiated Agile Patriot, a professional development seminar benefiting more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel.
“Serving as your AFMC chief has been the honor of a lifetime,” Flosi said. “I could not be more thankful for having the opportunity to serve the nearly 90,000 men and women of AFMC, as well as 8,500 total force Airmen assigned to the U.S. Space Force. As I continue my journey, I want to say thank you. I will always remember the men and women of AFMC, our community partners, and the friends we made here.”
Flosi will move on to be the 20th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, adding a deeply experienced and proven Airman to the top echelon of the Air Force leadership team.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt rendition of the Air Force song, symbolizing unity, pride, and the enduring spirit of service that defines the men and women of AFMC.