AFMC Command News

Retired chief honored for 50 years of service

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kristen D. Duncan
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A ceremony honoring a retired chief master sergeant and civil servant for 50 years of service humbly concluded with his remarks, "If I can ever do anything for you, please let me know."

Gene Lamm isn't going anywhere, which is exactly what he meant by offering his help to the audience of coworkers, past and present, family and friends. Even after 50 years, including 30 years in active-duty service, Mr. Lamm has no plans of retiring soon.

"There are a lot of people who did a lot for me today, in uniform and out," Mr. Lamm said. "Everybody out here has contributed to my making 50 years."

Mr. Lamm's career began April 1953, when he entered the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, S.C., and served two years in Korea and the state of Washington before returning to the civilian world as an electric welder.

As Chris Simpson, 96th Security Forces Squadron Security Program Protection Flight director said, "Having put on that uniform, it's hard to take it off."

Mr. Lamm returned to active-duty service for the U.S. Air Force in 1957 as an Air Policeman assigned here. That move back to the military led to a 28-year career as an air/security police, motorcycle cop, first sergeant and chief master sergeant, who at the time was the second-highest ranking security police chief master sergeant in the entire Air Force.

"When Gene retired from the Air Force, he had a number of decorations, citations, and even a bronze star, which is quite an honor," Mr. Simpson said. "It's been quite an honor and privilege working with him. You can't put a price on the amount that he has given back to the Air Force."

When he retired in 1985, one year of car sales in the Fort Walton Beach area was enough to drive him back to the federal service with the 3201st Security Police Squadron as a security specialist here. Currently, he is a security specialist for industrial and acquisition security under the 96th SFS.

Besides his humility, Mr. Lamm's humor was evident in his few remarks. "You never have the right words -- I can give an industrial security briefing or sell an old car," he said.

He thanked everyone for their kind words, their support and family and former coworkers and supervisors who traveled here for the ceremony.

"Gene has made a big difference to this outfit," said Bill Vickery, retired chief master sergeant and former director of acquisition security. "He was always there to help and he had an effect in a lot of lives."