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Show HILLTOP TIMES flMES November 22, 2007 A day in the life... of a Command Chief BY SENIOR AIRMAN CLAY MURRAY More specific 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs H ILL AIR FORCE BASE — Command chiefs have one of the most visible jobs in the Air Force. Whether it's visiting with airmen around the base, working with first sergeants or attending meetings he spends plenty of time getting to know personnel on base. And he probably should. As one of only three command chiefs on base, he is in charge of more than 1,700 enlisted members and their families who fall under the Ogden Air Logistics Center and the 75th Air Base Wing. During his 24 years in the Air Force in signals intelligence, he has also been stationed all over the world. "I've done a lot of weird things," said Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, Ogden Air Logistics Center and 75th Air Base wing command chief. "Once I officiated a wedding for a soldier and a Korean woman. The guy lined up to be the overseeing priest backed out at the last minute so I stepped in." Full of stories of interesting and odd experiences, Gurney now spends his days doing things that are a little more common. His icebreaker on this particular day is a first sergeant meeting at the Club Hill First Sergeants' Lounge. Chief ' Master Sgt. William Gurney, Ogden Air Logistics Center and 75th Air Base Wing command chief, speaks with airmen from the 75th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney has been married to his wife, Tracie, for 23 years. They have two daughters, Kayleigh, 12, and Kjerstan, 8. All of his assignments are his favorite, but in particular, his favorite assignment was RAFF Edzell, Scotland. His future aspirations are to continue serving in the United States Air Force. During the nearly two-hour meeting, Gurney, and Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Czop, 388th Fighter Wing command chief, spoke to Hill Air Force Base's first sergeants about a wide variety of issues. The discussion began with a mental health briefing and went through the Combined Federal Campaign status, basewide profile standings and Thanksgiving ideas for airmen and their families. Immediately following the base first sergeant meeting, Gurney gathered together all of the diamonds wearers (also known as first sergeants) on base who fell under Air Force Materiel Command to relay what he had recently learned at the major command's senior leader conference the week prior. After meeting with the shirts, the chief briefly stopped by his office to check SENIOR AIRMAN CLAY MURRAY U.S. Air Force up on some e-mail and his schedule for the day. "I'm in the office as little as possible," said Gurney. "Normally, if I have things to take care of in the office, I'll do it after duty hours." With a small fraction of his e-mail squared away, Gurney set out for lunch. He visited the 75th Civil Engineer Group during their chili cheese fries cook-off for an opportunity to speak with airmen, noncommissioned officers and officers. After a quick lunch, Gurney high tails it to meet face-to-face with airmen to see how he can help them out. He does this unannounced so that it can be a more natural visit. "We like to do pop-ins and surprise people," said Gurney of himself and Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander. "I was an airman, and I know how it is when people get wrapped up in getting ready for visits." Finally, in an unsuspecting office of military members, he approaches his nearest victim. "How are things?" he asks an airman in the flight medicine clinic. "Do you have any issues that I can help you out with?" Most of the time he receives a long, blank stare. "So are you telling me that Hill AFB is just that perfect?" he jokes to loosen up a somewhat unresponsive and quiet group. Eventually he coaxes airmen to be open with him and explain suggestions and recommendations and ideas that they have for the base. The end of Gurney's day is comprised of e-mail and paperwork. Day-to-day his attendance and activities vary, but his dedication to the airmen under his wing and center remains the same — service before self, always. (This is part of a series of articles based on the day in the life of...) PROTECTING SOURCES IS PROTECTING DEMOCRACY of ir:itrris»:i that on Support the passage of a Federal shield law For more information and to download a free ad, visit www.rcfp.org/shield M ififin fnA flM 2339 So. 1900 W. West Haven. UT 84401 • (8011 479-4455 Come Early for the mx Best selection /-;. * Fri and Sat, Nov. 23rd and 241 I LADIES: Time to buy that Christmas gift for that man of vows!! i •-• 01 Share the gift of life. Doaate plaaaa \ rSPECIAL for.NEW DONORSII LARGEST SNOWMOBILE • LEARN HOW TO HELMETS DRY THIS SEASON • 5 BRANDS OF CLOTHING TO CHOOSE FROM AS LOW AS S 49.95 New donors by appointment. <!• Help Save Lives www.grifols.com Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30-6:00 Sat 8-2 POLRRIS Th» Wtoy Out. 2339 So. 1900 W. West Haven , UT 84401 (801) 4794455 www.ssspolaris,com |