Dedication chief among 1st SOMXS crew

  • Published
  • By Raquel Sanchez
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Team Hurlburt inducted eight crew chiefs from the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron into the Dedicated Crew Chief program during a ceremony at their squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, April 2.

The ceremony recognized these crew chiefs as maintenance experts on their respective aircraft, the MC-130P Combat Shadow.

The DCC program is a long standing Air Force tradition that recognizes top maintainers for their service in keeping their aircraft mission-ready and is held in high regard to aerospace maintenance professionals.

"Service as a DCC is a unique privilege only afforded to the best maintainers," said Maj. Michael Campos, commander of 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron. "Their devotion to the mission makes them stand out among their peers. The DCC is the backbone of sortie generation."

DCCs are responsible for every aspect of their aircraft and are hand-selected based on their leadership skills, management ability, initiative and technical proficiency.

Air crews count on DCCs to provide them with a safe and reliable aircraft. To many they are the "face of the squadron" as they are the focal point for the aircraft they maintain.

Staff Sergeants Robert Harp and Jessel Saenz of 1st SOMXS said they each take pride in being a newly appointed DCC and the responsibility that comes with it.

"I'm looking forward to the responsibilities of traveling with the plane, the TDYs, deploying and always having my hands on it at some time," Harp said.

Each DCC received a certificate and token helmet bag from their commander for their hard work and dedication. The ceremony also paired each DCC with assistant DCCs to serve as an apprentice to share the responsibility of maintaining their respective aircraft.

"I feel pretty proud being a part of it," said Senior Airman Joaquin Rincon, assistant DCC for Staff Sgt. Trampass Warren, both of 1st SOMXS.

The ceremony concluded with Col. Robert Miglionico, commander of 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group, closing remarks urging the newly-appointed DCCs to remain dedicated and to work as a team.

"We don't fly airplanes with just maintainers, we don't fly them with just operators, we fly them as a team," Miglionico said. "We win as team, we lose as a team."

The following 1st SOMXS crew chiefs were recognized for their dedication to the mission and service in keeping their aircraft ready to fly and fight.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Beckham
Staff Sgt. Alexander Desmond
Staff Sgt. Robert Harp
Staff Sgt. William Nelson
Staff Sgt. Jessel Saenz
Staff Sgt. Bradley Sutherland
Staff Sgt. Bryon Walton
Staff Sgt. Trampass Warren