Top reservist visits troops at Edwards

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

Command Chief Master Sergeant for Air Force Reserve Command, Chief Master Sgt. Ericka E. Kelly, visited Edwards AFB March 9 for a base familiarization tour and to meet with local Reserve Airmen. Kelly is the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command’s highest ranking enlisted member and is stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. She also serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of Air Force Reserve at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Chief Master Sgt. Timothy White, 4th Air Force Reserve Command command chief out of March Air Reserve Base, California, accompanied Kelly on her official visit.

The chiefs ate breakfast at the Joshua Tree Inn Dining facility with members of the 412th Force Support Squadron and Blue Eagles Honor Guard members before receiving a mission brief at 412th Test Wing Headquarters.

Kelly and White then dropped by to meet with Reserve Airmen supporting the Edwards KC-46 tanker mission and later visited the 418th Flight Test Squadron, 411th Flight Test Squadron, Airman Leadership School, 370th Flight Test Squadron and the 412th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Kelly gave Air Force Reserve Command coins to dozens of Reserve Airmen who support the mission at Edwards.

According to her official biography, Kelly represents the highest enlisted executive level of leadership in Air Force Reserve Command and advises the commander on all issues regarding the readiness, training, welfare, morale, proper utilization and progress of more than 55,000 enlisted active duty and Reserve Citizen Airmen serving at more than 60 military bases worldwide. She also provides direction to the Air Force Reserve force and represents their interests at all levels of government to other military branches and in joint strategic and operational war-fighting environments.

Kelly joined the Air Force in October 1987 and served numerous assignments as a medical technician, aeromedical evacuation craftsman and other leadership positions in the medical technician career field and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In May 1993, Kelly transferred to the Air Force Reserve and deployed twice in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.