Chief McCoy selected to replace Chief Sirois as Command Chief

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Chief Master Sgt. Karen R. McCoy, currently first sergeant for Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, has been selected to replace Chief Master Sergeant Lisa Sirois as 66th Air Base Wing and Electronic Systems Center Command Chief, beginning in November.

Chief Sirois, who has served as Command Chief since October 2005, is moving to a new assignment as Command Chief for the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing at Manas Air Base in the Kyrgyz Republic next month.

"We all know what an outstanding Command Chief and great leader Chief Sirois has been, and the Airmen of the 376 AEW will benefit immensely with Chief Sirois on their leadership team...just as we have all benefited from the Chief's non-stop support and dedication," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th ABW commander. "But, we are now left with some very big shoes to fill."

The colonel said that, after an extensive search of "the best of the best," he selected Chief McCoy, who he described as "another awesome Chief who is very excited and enthusiastic about joining our leadership team."

"She will do a great job," Colonel Schluckebier said. "She has extensive leadership experience -- both at home station and deployed -- and is very familiar with the AFMC mission and culture."

Chief McCoy, a native of Derry, N.H., enlisted in the Air Force in 1985, and has held a variety of jobs in the Surgical Services and First Sergeant career fields. She has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and combat missions to the Horn of Africa.

In her new position, Chief McCoy will play a critical role in the readiness of the enlisted force and serve primarily as a conduit of information between commanders and enlisted personnel, ensuring enlisted members understand the commander's policies, organizational goals, and objectives.

Additionally, she will advise commanders on concerns, attitudes, morale, welfare, effective utilization of the enlisted force and other matters that affect readiness.

Details on Chief Sirois' farewell are being developed, and will be publicized as soon as they are finalized.