AFMC command chief visits Edwards

Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, Air Force Materiel Command command chief, speaks to Edwards Airman Leadership School students about the important role they play in the Air Force’s mission to fly, fight and win. Chief Gurney visited Edwards March 17 and 18 to observe the base's mission. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stacy Sanchez)

AFMC command chief visits Edwards

Staff Sgt. Jason Buffell, 412th Maintenance Group aircraft armament specialist, shows Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, Air Force Materiel Command command chief, a weapons display during the command chief's visit to Edwards on March 17 and 18. Chief Gurney visited many of Edwards maintenance shops as well as participated in a fitness run and met with Airmen attending the local Airmen's Leadership School. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes)

AFMC command chief visits Edwards

Published March 20, 2008
By Senior Airman Stacy Sanchez
95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Air Force Materiel Command's top enlisted Airman visited Edwards March 17 and 18 for the first time to observe the base's mission.

As part of his two-day visit, Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, AFMC command chief, visited several organizations around base to speak to Edwards Airmen.

"Interacting with Team Edwards Airmen gives Chief Gurney valuable insight into the issues affecting our Airmen and provides him the opportunity to share his vision with the installation," said Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis, 95th Air Base Wing command chief. "Chief Gurney, as the commands' senior enlisted leader, has his finger on the pulse of the Air Force."

One of the places he visited included the Edwards Airman Leadership School, where he spoke to senior airmen about the important role the base and the rest of AFMC play in the Air Force's mission.

"We have this stigma that (AFMC) is not apart of the fight, and that we are not doing important things to help the effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, but nothing can be farther from the truth," Chief Gurney said. "We are deploying people directly to the fight. I want to get the message down to our Airmen that they make a difference each and everyday regardless of what career field they are in."

Through his many stops, Chief Gurney said he noticed that Team Edwards was energetic and engaged.

"The professional organizations on Edwards are very involved, which is very important for any base with a tight-knit community," Chief Gurney said. "You almost get the feeling that this is an overseas base located in the continental United States because of how Edwards is so isolated."

After meeting with several Airmen in the maintenance groups here, Chief Gurney said he has a better appreciation for the flight test mission.

"I received the opportunity to get out into the hangars and have airmen explain to me what the Edwards mission was all about," Chief Gurney said. "That truly helped me understand and appreciate what is being done."

Chief Lewis said it was an absolute honor to host Chief Gurney.

"We were able to show the chief all the mission-critical work Team Edwards heroes are doing every day to support and enhance our warfighter capabilities," he said.

Chief Gurney said the Airmen here are working on game-changing technology that is making a difference today and 10 years from now.

"Keep doing your absolute best," the AFMC command chief said. "It's important that Airmen, from all ranks, stay involved with the base. Everyone is doing a great job."