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CMSAF Murray reflects on his career

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray visited Shaw recently as the key speaker for the 20th Fighter Wing Chief's Induction Ceremony.

This was not the chief's first time at Shaw. He visited three or four times during his tenure as chief master sergeant of the Air Force and was stationed here from late 1981 to spring of 1984.

Chief Murray said he enjoyed his time at Shaw and he had some great memories. His son was born at the base hospital.

"Back then, I was a crew chief and I had the distinct honor of recovering and chalking the first two F-16s that landed here for training in early 1982," Chief Murray said.

The chief joined the Air Force in 1977 and never dreamed that he would become the CMSAF.

"I initially joined the Air Force because the economy was bad and I needed a job," he said. "In 1979 during the senior airman below-the-zone board, I was asked by a panel comprised of a major and multiple chiefs, 'What are your goals in the Air Force?' I realized that I should probably reply with a lofty goal, so I replied with 'I want to be chief master sergeant of the Air Force.' I had no idea at the time what the chief master sergeant of the Air Force even did. Little did I know or even dream that was what I would become one day."

The chief said his main goal was to become a fighter squadron superintendent. He achieved this goal in 1994 when he became the maintenance superintendent for the 70th Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

This is where Chief Master Sgt. Gary Rutledge, 20th Fighter Wing command chief, met Chief Murray.

"We have been friends ever since," Chief Rutledge said.

"I have a lot of respect for him for many reasons," Chief Rutledge said. "During his tenure as the CMSAF, Chief Murray influenced many changes to the enlisted force to move into the 21st century."

After meeting his goal, Chief Murray said he was asked by a general to become a command chief master sergeant.

"I didn't even really want to do it, but you don't tell a general 'no,' so I accepted it and did the best that I could," Chief Murray said.

Soon after, the chief said he was selected to be the command chief for 5th Air Force, then to a major command.

"Even after all of that, I still didn't believe I would become the CMSAF because there is only one in the Air Force," Chief Murray said.

The chief said he never shied away from the responsibility of any job he has ever had and ultimately was nominated for CMSAF.

"It was a great honor when Gen. William Begert nominated me to be the CMSAF and even more so when Gen. John Jumper (the Air Force chief of staff at the time) selected me," the chief said.

The chief said his advice to Airmen who are pursuing various goals throughout their career is to set small short-term goals with a large goal in mind.

"You get to big goals by achieving smaller ones," he said.

As Airmen drive towards their goal they need to remember to do the job right because nothing is worth doing if it's not done right, Chief Murray said. While pursuing their goal, they must remember to never do it at the expense of another person.

The Air Force core values are perfect for Airmen with goals because it instills self discipline, he said. If an Airman abides by the core values of "service before self," "excellence in all we do" and "integrity first," their goals will become attainable.