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A new chief among us: Skelton promoted to chief master sergeant

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron honored Gary Skelton Dec. 7, 2014, with a promotion ceremony to the rank of chief master sergeant at the 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The ceremony was held in the RED HORSE Training Facility in front of a crowd of fellow Airmen, family and friends. Chief Master Sgt. Ron Redding, 188th Wing installation emergency manager, read the Chief's Creed and narrated the ceremony.

"Chief Skelton is an exceptional senior NCO and a trailblazer within the Air National Guard RED HORSE community," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander. "He has achieved some amazing feats by bringing the 188th Wing to the forefront of the RED HORSE training mission. He has gone above and beyond to help the wing showcase that amazing capability to the community as well as ANG, state leadership and our Arkansas Army National Guard partners. He's truly as asset to this wing and certainly deserving of this promotion."

Skelton joined the Air National Guard in 1979 and has been a member of the Flying Razorback community for more than 35 years. He has served in multiple roles within the 188th's Civil Engineering community and currently holds the role of chief of operations for the RED HORSE Training Center here. Additionally, he has deployed in support of Operation Beyond the Horizon in Guatemala, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle and served as a liaison for multiple National Guard Bureau and Civil Engineering contingency training missions.

During the ceremony, Skelton took time to acknowledge his family and friends who have supported him throughout his career. He personally recognized and coined three men who impacted his quest to become a chief master sergeant and thanked them for their inspiring mentorship and continued support throughout the years of his service.

"Everyone talks about the Air Force Core Values and in my life and career I have embodied those and added a few of my own," said Skelton. "God, family and country are the most important values to me and I am so blessed to have people in my life who have helped me along the way and that I get to serve in the greatest country, the one I love. If I had to do it all over again, even if I didn't get to make chief, I would in a heartbeat."

Before the ceremony concluded, Skelton took the time to discuss the importance of mentoring and serving alongside the Airmen of the future.

"I am a part of the one percent that serves, but if it wasn't for the other 99 percent, that includes all of these young Airmen in this room, I wouldn't be where I'm at in my career," Skelton added. "I had always looked up to my chiefs during my career and I want to have other Airmen look up to me throughout their career.

Friends and family joined Skelton after the ceremony to congratulate him and welcome him to the illustrious rank of chief master sergeant and wish him continued luck in his efforts at the 188th Wing.

A new chief among us: Skelton promoted to chief master sergeant

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron honored Gary Skelton Dec. 7, 2014, with a promotion ceremony to the rank of chief master sergeant at the 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The ceremony was held in the RED HORSE Training Facility in front of a crowd of fellow Airmen, family and friends. Chief Master Sgt. Ron Redding, 188th Wing installation emergency manager, read the Chief's Creed and narrated the ceremony.

"Chief Skelton is an exceptional senior NCO and a trailblazer within the Air National Guard RED HORSE community," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander. "He has achieved some amazing feats by bringing the 188th Wing to the forefront of the RED HORSE training mission. He has gone above and beyond to help the wing showcase that amazing capability to the community as well as ANG, state leadership and our Arkansas Army National Guard partners. He's truly as asset to this wing and certainly deserving of this promotion."

Skelton joined the Air National Guard in 1979 and has been a member of the Flying Razorback community for more than 35 years. He has served in multiple roles within the 188th's Civil Engineering community and currently holds the role of chief of operations for the RED HORSE Training Center here. Additionally, he has deployed in support of Operation Beyond the Horizon in Guatemala, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle and served as a liaison for multiple National Guard Bureau and Civil Engineering contingency training missions.

During the ceremony, Skelton took time to acknowledge his family and friends who have supported him throughout his career. He personally recognized and coined three men who impacted his quest to become a chief master sergeant and thanked them for their inspiring mentorship and continued support throughout the years of his service.

"Everyone talks about the Air Force Core Values and in my life and career I have embodied those and added a few of my own," said Skelton. "God, family and country are the most important values to me and I am so blessed to have people in my life who have helped me along the way and that I get to serve in the greatest country, the one I love. If I had to do it all over again, even if I didn't get to make chief, I would in a heartbeat."

Before the ceremony concluded, Skelton took the time to discuss the importance of mentoring and serving alongside the Airmen of the future.

"I am a part of the one percent that serves, but if it wasn't for the other 99 percent, that includes all of these young Airmen in this room, I wouldn't be where I'm at in my career," Skelton added. "I had always looked up to my chiefs during my career and I want to have other Airmen look up to me throughout their career.

Friends and family joined Skelton after the ceremony to congratulate him and welcome him to the illustrious rank of chief master sergeant and wish him continued luck in his efforts at the 188th Wing.