8th AF Command Chief visits

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AFB, MO --  Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Kabalan, the 8th Air Force command chief master sergeant, visited Whiteman this week to see the 509th Bomb Wing perform its mission first hand.

Chief Kabalan is stationed at 8th Air Force Headquarters, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and is the senior enlisted adviser to Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, 8th Air Force commander. He
is keen on such issues as morale, welfare and improving the effectiveness of more than 38,000 enlisted Airmen assigned to the information operations and bomber war fighting missions of 8th Air Force.

While here, Chief Kabalan visited with Brig. Gen. Greg Biscone, 509th BW commander, key enlisted leaders, Airmen's council, Airman's leadership school, First Term Airmen's Center and several other facilities around the base.

The chief, who became the 8th Air Force command chief in October of last year, began his career as a security forces patrolman at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

"Honestly, I came in as an airman basic and did not really have any desire to be a chief master sergeant," said the 28-year Air Force veteran who had initially enlisted for four
years.

Chief Kabalan said he knew he wanted to serve his country when he entered the Air Force at the age of 17.

"What led me to becoming a chief master sergeant and ultimately command
chief of 8th Air Force was supervision ... great supervisors who trusted me and gave me enough rope [latitude] to do my job but no enough to hang myself," he said.

"My number one priority is to make sure each Airman understands how they fit in the big scheme of the 8th Air Force mission. It is critical that each Airman understands how
they support the wing, 8th Air Force, Air Combat Command, and our great Air Force," said Chief Kabalan.

Since his arrival Tuesday, Chief Kabalan has received a lot of insight into the mission and the quality of Airmen who make the mission possible.

"I can tell from my time visiting the wing that the senior NCOs, NCOs, Airmen and officers here at Whiteman are phenomenal," he said.

"The conclusion I have drawn is that you lead the way," Chief Kabalan said. "It is a stand alone mission and no other unit in the world does what you do.

"You are making sure people take notice of the capability the 509th brings to the war on terror. It is not necessarily an effect everyone can see, but an effect that is understood, that is realized."

During his visit, Chief Kabalan also talked about Air Force transformation including the new cyber command and the importance of controlling cyber space.

"Right now our Air Force is in a time of change, restructuring change and recapitalization
change. We are not flying the B-29; we are flying the B-2.

"We will have to make sure that we suport leadership's efforts to transform the Air Force to where we need to be. I feel confident the men and women of the 509th are up to the challenge ... impressive!"