Senior NCO will become Air Force ‘one percenter’

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ray Bowden
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Howell, 39th Air Base Wing Command Post superintendent, is one of four local chief-selects who celebrated their pending promotion into the top one percent of the Air Force's enlisted corps Nov. 21 at the Consolidated Club.

Sergeant Howell, who has 23 years of service under his belt, said he would sew on his eighth stripe April 1 or May 1.

"My goal from day one was to make chief and retire from the Air Force after 30 years," he said.

Sergeant Howell described his wife, Jo, as his greatest supporter.

"This was my third time testing so I was a little nervous, but she said she knew I would make it," Sergeant Howell said.

Sergeant Howell said he welcomes the chance to work at a strategic level of leadership and has his sights set on one day tackling the duties of a wing command chief.

"The 'people aspect' of a command chief's position appeals to me, as does the idea of being a mentor for tomorrow's Air Force leaders," he said.

According to Sergeant Howell, any Airmen planning to retire as a chief should strive for career development, personify the Air Force Core Values and find a strong role model.

"Their mentor should be someone they respect and want to emulate," he said.

Sergeant Howell learned to appreciate the 'total person" concept from his mentor, Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Rodger Judy, who he served with at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

"The full person concept means maintaining a high degree of technical competence while at the same time striving for personal improvement through off-duty education and professional training," he said.

Additionally, the sergeant partially credits his pending promotion to his 2007 Air Education Training Command Post Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award.

"Awards are important when it comes to making chief and this one certainly helped," he said.

Two other Incirlik senior master sergeants also received chief master sergeant line numbers; Stephen Gregory, 39th Comptroller Squadron, and Michael "Salty" Saltalamachia, 39th Security Forces Squadron.

Senior Master Sgt. Louis Orrie, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, currently deployed to Incirlik from McChord AFB, Wash., is also scheduled for promotion to chief.

Chief Master Sgt. Roger Ellis, 39 ABW command chief, said these four NCOs have reached the pinnacle of their careers.

"They are now part of the one percent of enlisted Airmen," Chief Ellis said. "This is where their vast experience and knowledge come into play and where they can positively influence and direct the enlisted force. It's a momentous occasion and a privilege for ant Airmen to make chief."