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Command chief retires after 30 years

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
When young adults enter military service, they start on a path they will follow for years to come.

At the end of each enlistment term, they are faced with the decision to continue serving their country or begin a new journey.

In 1987, one young man began what he believed would only be one term as a weather forecaster in the Air Force, but his career ended up spanning 30 years of service.

On June 1, Chief Master Sgt. Christopher McKinney, former 20th Fighter Wing command chief, gathered with family and friends to mark the end of an era at his retirement ceremony.

He reflected on the lessons that did not come easily during his journey.

“A lot of times my thought processes were driven by ‘how is this going to benefit me,’” said McKinney. “Now many of my choices are ‘how does it benefit the Air Force, my unit, the people I supervise and my family.’”

As a leader, McKinney stressed the importance of getting to know the individuals around him.

“You’ve heard me say it a million times if you’ve been around me for more than five minutes,” said McKinney. “People don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care. When people don’t think we care, they shut off.”

One Airmen who felt impacted by McKinney’s efforts was his executive assistant, Tech. Sgt. Lester Powell.

“Chief connected with me immediately and anything I told him about myself, I never had to say twice,” said Powell. “He knew my interests, hobbies, goals, and family and regularly asked about each. Not everyone realizes how far someone asking you about (yourself) can go. That can make or break someone's day.”

By showing interest in those around him and caring for his Airmen, he fostered relationships which helped his team complete the mission.

“Why do I want to have relationships, why do I want to connect?” said McKinney. “Because with resource constraints, I have to get innovation from you. I don’t have all the answers. If I don’t connect to you, if I don’t learn to bridge that generational gap, I do not tap into the most precious resource (the Air Force has).”

The Air Force is made up of Airmen from diverse backgrounds, cultures and thought processes, so finding a way to connect is not always simple. It requires someone with a flexible mindset to process innovative ideas, the courage to say what needs to be said, and the ability to control and express their emotions, said McKinney.

Even though he may not agree with someone, he said having mental agility, moral courage and emotional intelligence helps him listen and glean information he can use to make a connection. After a connection is made, the other person is more open to hearing a different opinion. It won’t change everything, but it is an opportunity to plant a seed.

He planted some of those seeds in Powell’s mind by sharing his experiences and leadership style.

“From day one, he began to pour knowledge and leadership traits into me,” said Powell. “Chief McKinney saw something in me that I did not even see in myself. I was a young Tech. Sgt. and wanted to just sit back and coast for however long I was going to be stationed here at Shaw. Chief gave me a ‘seat at the table’ and afforded me the opportunity to change my view.”

Even with all he learned during his career, McKinney has advice he wishes he could have given himself, and all young Airmen, at the beginning of the journey.

“If I had to give advice to Airman Basic McKinney I would say ‘McKinney, do more, better, before,’” he said. “Do more than they expect, better than they expect it, before they expect it. When you do those things, you become the go-to person. When you do those things, opportunities find you.”

Despite the advice he wish he received, his 30-year career was filled with experiences he never would have had without the Air Force, met one-of-a-kind people from across the world, and changed a few lives.

“There is no doubt that I am the NCO that I am today due to the mentorship and leadership (McKinney) has shown me over my seven months working under his direction,” said Powell. “Words cannot express how much that means to me.”

McKinney was a true example of what an American Airman, leader and warrior should be, said Powell, and expressed the desire to one day do for other Airmen as McKinney did for him.


Before his retirement, Chief McKinney reflected on his fellow Airmen and the impact they had on his career.

“The last thing I will say to the men and women of Team Shaw and the 20th FW is, from the bottom of my heart, I love you my brothers and sisters in arms,” said McKinney. “Thank you for allowing me to be your teammate.”