Electronic Systems Center commander receives highest enlisted honor

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. C. Michaela Walrond
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Hanscom held an enlisted call Nov. 1 that promised to be memorable for two reasons: it would be Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Sirois' last as the 66th Air Base Wing and Electronic Systems Center command chief before handing over the position to Chief Master Sgt. Karen R. McCoy; and Lt. Gen. Chuck Johnson, Electronic Systems Center commander, would address the center's enlisted force, including personnel assigned to geographically separated units, before retiring this week. However, the 'call' had something else in store that even the general was not aware of.

General Johnson came to the Enlisted Call to give what he thought would be parting words to the enlisted force before his upcoming departure from Hanscom, but instead, he was called on stage by Chief Sirois to receive an invitation to receive the Order of the Sword -- the highest honor Air Force noncommissioned officers can bestow on an individual who has made significant contributions to the enlisted corps.

The Order of the Sword is an honor that was founded during the middle ages, where noncommissioned officers would honor their leader and pledge their loyalty by presenting him with a sword that would stand as a symbol for truth, justice and power rightfully used, and serve as a token for all to see and know that he was a leader among leaders.

The Order of the Sword ceremony was later revised, updated and adopted by Air Force NCOs in 1967.

As part the ceremony, enlisted personnel representing each enlisted rank lined the stage and took turns highlighting the many areas the general contributed significantly to, which helped the base and the enlisted community. Some of those mentioned included the quality of life initiatives the general put in place, his professionalism and integrity, his leadership during Hanscom's recent Operational Readiness Inspection, and the visits he made to those deployed in support of the Global War on Terror.

"General Johnson, you truly are a leader among leaders. Your dad is looking down on you, and he is proud. On behalf of all enlisted men and women of Air Force Materiel Command, congratulations on this honor," Chief Sirois said as she presented the invitation.

After receiving the official Order of the Sword invitation from Chief Sirois, General Johnson spoke to the crowd, including personnel assigned to Hanscom's GSUs, who viewed the ceremony via video teleconference.

"I am deeply honored to be here today. Thank you all for this incredible honor. You can't imagine what this means to me personally, and for my dad, as well," said the general, who spoke of the life lessons he learned from his father, who served in the enlisted force and retired as an Air Force Master Sergeant.

"I'm very humbled by this, and I'm very blessed to have served with all of you -- thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

The official Order of the Sword ceremony for General Johnson is scheduled for June 20, 2008 at Hanscom.