Chiefs bring the THUNDER!

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ethan Sherwood
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

Service members, honored guests, family and friends gathered to celebrate with three of the Air Force’s soon-to-be chief master sergeants and the newest honorary chief of Goodfellow Air Force Base at the event center on Feb. 7.

Senior Master Sgt. Malcolm Summers II, Senior Master Sgt. Charmane Rodriguez Tatum and Senior Master Sgt. Richard Sanchez were congratulated on their upcoming promotion to the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force.

Doctor Carol Ann Bonds was congratulated on becoming the fifth ever honorary chief of Goodfellow. The last honorary chief was retired Colonel Charles Powell in 2016.

Summers, 17th Training Group military training superintendent, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, oversees 13,000 annual non-prior service students across 12 enlisted Air Force Specialty Codes, three squadrons and one detachment attending the Department of Defense’s Fire Protection Academy, Special Instruments and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance technical training courses. Additionally, he serves as the base Functional Manager in the deliberate development, guidance and leadership of the 17th TRG’s 30 assigned Military Training Leaders.

Tatum, 313th Training Squadron superintendent, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander for matters related to morale, welfare, training, and readiness for over 70 military, civilian, and contract Airmen who deliver training in 13 advanced intelligence courses to approximately 1,700 students annually. Additionally, he lead the Senior Enlisted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Master Skills Course, graduating approximately 170 senior leaders annually. This is the Air Force’s only ISR-focused superintendent course.

Sanchez, 314th Training Squadron operations superintendent, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, California, leads more than 600 Airmen in seven languages and liaises with DLI leaders across four schools. Additionally, he collaborates with 2nd Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and Headquarters Air Force on initiatives and changes to the Air Force’s longest training pipeline. He also directs operations for three flights and over 50 staff members to ensure the career development of all Airmen over five AFSCs. 

Bonds, Ph.D. of San Angelo, currently serves on the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, and is an emeritus Air Education and Training Command Civic Leader. In these roles, she fosters community and base partnerships, champions numerous initiatives for Goodfellow Air Force Base, and coordinates with the local schools on behalf of military children.

Guest speaker, Chief Master Sgt. Julie Gudgel, command chief of AETC, gave the future chiefs a piece of advice in the form of an acronym, THUNDER.

The acronym goes over the critical qualities of a leader, Transparent, Humble, Ubiquitous, Nimble, Diplomat, Energetic, and Resilient. She went into detail with each trait to explain why it would be valuable as a Chief or as any leader.

Congratulations Chiefs! Welcome to the 1%!