Hanscom honors newest chiefs during ceremony

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Since 1959, when a fledgling Air Force announced its first promotions to the new rank of chief master sergeant, known then as 'super grades,' enlisted men and women have aspired to reach the service's top one percent.

The latest to achieve this milestone are two Air Force Life Cycle Management Center-Hanscom senior NCOs who were recognized during a Chief Master Sergeant Induction Banquet at the Minuteman Commons April 9.

Senior Master Sgts. Wesley J. Keville, superintendent of Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Recapitalization Division, and Aaron Marley, superintendent of AFLCMC Detachment 7, are Hanscom's newest chiefs.

As part of the formal ceremony, Airmen representing each enlisted rank through senior master sergeant lit a candle that symbolized the path to chief master sergeant.

Hanscom Command Chief Master Sgt. Patricia A. Hickey explained the significance of a candle-lighting ceremony at a chief's induction banquet.

"The candle lighting ceremony is an important element of the banquet because it represents the important steps that chief-selects take to achieving the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force," said Hickey. "Making chief is a big deal, but the journey is not over. Each of them will be expected to continue doing all the great things that have gotten them to this point in their career."

Other aspects of the ceremony included an Order of the Saber entrance by the honorees, plaque presentations and remarks from retired Chief Master Sergeant Frank Holmes, a former command chief at Hanscom, who discussed mentorship.

"We all should have mentors we look to," said Holmes, who served as Electronic Systems Center command chief from August 1999 to March 2002. "Mentorship is a multidirectional responsibility - up and down the chain of command, laterally to peers, across military and civilian workforces. It must never stop."

During his speech, Holmes also highlighted his early mentors and discussed today's high-caliber Airmen.

Keville and Marley were among 525 senior master sergeants the Air Force selected late last year for promotion.

Hanscom's command chief discussed the importance of making it to the top of the enlisted corps.

"As chiefs, we share the responsibility with other senior leaders in shaping the future of the United States Air Force through mentoring Airmen, both officer and enlisted," said Hickey. "I encourage you to embrace that responsibility and continue to work hard each and every day to make your organizations, and our Air Force, better than ever."