Whiteman revives tradition: B-2 dedicated crew chiefs recognized

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Bryan Vandersommen
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  One by one, 13 of Whiteman's B-2 dedicated crew chiefs stood front and center at the Mission's End April 10 for an induction ceremony.

Witnessed by friends, family and fellow maintainers, it was something "very important to recognize, as indicated by the crowd," said Chief Master Sgt. James Bell, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent.

As they received certificates and coins, these "Keepers of the Spirit" joined a long standing Air Force tradition recently adopted at Whiteman.

Col. Robert Wheeler, 509th Bomb Wing commander, made a special first presentation to Staff Sgt. Scott West, 509th AMXS, as dedicated crew chief for the wing flagship, "Spirit of America".

Maj. Christopher Hague, 509th AMXS commander, presented each crew chief with their certificate, and Chief Bell gave them their coins, each finished in 24k gold leaf and bearing a B-2 imprinted with each aircraft's tail number.

The ceremony, practiced at all other Air Force Bases with permanently assigned aircraft, is a formal recognition of their responsibility for the aircraft they maintain.

"I felt very appreciated," said Sergeant West, a former B-52 crew chief with more than nine years experience, on receiving the recognition. He noted that the honor will only make him more motivated to take care of his aircraft.

Staff Sgt. James Steenburg, the only member present who was new to the B-2 crew chiefs' hand-picked ranks, felt it was "a huge honor," especially for the hard work he put into advancing to the position.

"Perfection is the goal," said Sergeant Steenburg. "So I will continue to double-check my double checks, since that's how I got here."

It is a work ethic that will serve these professionals well because as the dedicated crew chief charges direct, they must provide the safest jet possible, one that they themselves would not hesitate to fly in.

The crew chiefs inducted were, from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron:
Staff Sgts. Scott West, Tyler Brantley, Cory Cahill, David Shockley, James Steenburg, Jacob Westad, Lawrence Sink, Zachary Teague, Anthony Atoigue, Geoffrey Wray, Eric Hunt, Daniel Youmans, Landon Scheer, Christopher Therrian, Brent Flanary, Christopher Smith and Justin Reeves and Tech. Sgts. Ryan Embrey and Jace Funkhouser.