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20th Fighter Wing Command Chief retires

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C --  While the Air Force is enduring increasing change with improved technology and processes, one chief's service to the Air Force will never be forgotten. 

In 1947, the Air Force was established and in 1977 Airman Basic Gary Rutledge walked through the gates of Lackland AFB, Texas, and has been progressing with the Air Force for the past 30 years. Now he is evolving to a new chapter in his life. He has seen many changes throughout his career, starting as a weapons load crew member on F-4E aircraft and leaving as the 20th Fighter Wing Command Chief. 

Chief Master Sgt. Gary Rutledge is retiring July 13, after nearly three decades of service from the date of his initial enlistment. He said feels he has achieved and surpassed all of his goals in the Air Force and has set new ones for his civilian life. He said he plans to take two weeks off before starting a new job and new goals. 

As a first-term Airman, Chief Rutledge said he didn't know he was going to make a career out of the military, but demographics of the civilian work force and his expecting wife encouraged him to reenlist after the first four years. After a three-month break in service in which he sold hearing aids, Chief Rutledge decided he would reenlist and make the Air Force his career. From that point, he said he started setting and accomplishing goals, continually looking for new challenges and learning along the way. 

Now a command chief, he said he has built countless professional and personal memories along the way. 

"I've got memories of going down the Rhine River on the river boat ferry with friends, taking in the sights. I've got memories of loading cluster bomb units on the flight line at Clark Air Base in the Philippines and all 30 of us going down to the restaurant and eating steak and lobster for five dollars. You can't forget things like that," he said. 

He said he will also never forget friendships he will hold dear for the rest of his life and mentors who did not even realize the impact they had on his life; from his very first Weapons Load Crew Chief, Vietnam Veteran Staff Sgt. Bret Waterman, to the commanders he worked for, such as Col. William Morgan, and so many others. 

The Chief said he has made the most of his time in the service and in turn, continually strived for increased responsibility and new job experiences. 

"I got involved in a lot of community activities because I wanted to learn how to do things. I worked at Habitat for Humanity for six years, every Saturday. I wanted to learn how to fix my house because I had three kids and they tore up the house," he said. 

"I had never cleaned collard greens until I worked at the soup kitchen in Valdosta, Ga. I worked out a program where all my Airmen could work there," he said. 

The Chief also prepared himself to continue in the civilian work force by completing his degree in secondary education mathematics and he is working toward completing a master's degree in secondary education. 

"My wife is extremely strong, she held the home front through 13 desert trips and countless TDYs, stateside and elsewhere. Families make a deep sacrifice and they understand what we're doing and why we're doing it. Don't ever underestimate military spouses or children," he said. 

Throughout the experiences of a military life, Chief Rutledge said he thinks all Air Force families sacrifice more than the public could ever imagine. 

Chief Rutledge said he and his wife are looking forward to new experiences. 

"It's not starting over, but it sure feels like it," he said. "The jobs are out there, but you can't expect to walk out of this gate and do the same thing. I'm not going to be in a position like this when I get in the civilian world." 

His advice to all is; "Once you learn a job, teach someone else how to do the job and then look for your next challenge. Never be satisfied with the status quo, make sure you are always doing your best and demand nothing less from the Airmen around you," he said. 

"Keep your sense of humor and do not take yourself too seriously," Chief Rutledge said.