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188th promotes Tankersley to chief master sergeant

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Josh Lewis and Senior Airman John Hillier
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Achieving the rank of chief master sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted career. Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth "Dee" Tankersley, 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fabrication section supervisor, reached that lofty peak when he was promoted during a ceremony at the 188th Fighter Wing headquarters auditorium March 6, 2014.

"Chief Tankersley has proven himself time and time again on how effective he is as a leader," said Capt. Kim Sosebee, 188th Maintenance Squadron commander. "I cannot ignore that his comedic approach to appropriate situations has a contagious effect, which on multiple occasions broke tension and simply made people feel great. I look forward to seeing what wonderful things are to come with him leading the troops."

Tankersley learned to hone his skills from numerous mentors during his career, many of whom were previous chiefs in the unit. Every mentor had a different lesson to teach, not just to him, but for anyone who was willing to listen.

"I worked for Chief [Randy] Barentine for seven years and from day one he was training me to replace him, teaching me how to be a chief," Tankersley said. "Another one is Roger Conrad, the fabrication supervisor whom I worked for a long time. He showed me what it takes to be a supervisor."

Tankersley said he worked with many chiefs who were great leaders and possessed an array of quality attributes. He said he learned something from all of them and tried to apply many of their qualities to his own leadership style.

"They all had their own expertise that I admired," Tankersley said.

Now with the 188th deep into an on-going mission conversion from A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" to a complex Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, space-focused targeting and remotely piloted aircraft mission, Tankersley wants to ensure his Airmen give themselves every opportunity to succeed in their careers.

"I have always hung my hat on taking care of people and making sure things are going right," Tankersley said." "My goal is to make sure we continue to do that no matter what mission we're headed in. We are going from turning wrenches to some high-tech stuff, so we have to change with that."

Tankersley joined the wing Sept. 11, 1993, as a drill-status Guardsman working in the machine shop when the 188th flew F-16 Falcons. In 1997, he began working in the shop full time. Tankersley took over as the machine shop chief in 2000, and became the fabrication section supervisor in 2007.

The rank of chief master sergeant was established by Congress in 1958, and makes up just 1 percent of the entire Air Force. Lt. Col. Anderson Neal, 188th Maintenance Group commander, lauded Tankersley's ability to lead by example. Neal said Tankersley was undoubtedly deserving of the promotion to the Air Force's highest enlisted rank.

"Chief Tankersley is one who takes on any assignment given and is not constrained by his duties or responsibilities," Neal said. "He goes to whatever lengths to get the job done. I have had the privilege of serving with Chief Tankersley when I was an enlisted Airman and consider it an honor to have recommended his promotion to chief."

188th promotes Tankersley to chief master sergeant

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Josh Lewis and Senior Airman John Hillier
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Achieving the rank of chief master sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted career. Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth "Dee" Tankersley, 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fabrication section supervisor, reached that lofty peak when he was promoted during a ceremony at the 188th Fighter Wing headquarters auditorium March 6, 2014.

"Chief Tankersley has proven himself time and time again on how effective he is as a leader," said Capt. Kim Sosebee, 188th Maintenance Squadron commander. "I cannot ignore that his comedic approach to appropriate situations has a contagious effect, which on multiple occasions broke tension and simply made people feel great. I look forward to seeing what wonderful things are to come with him leading the troops."

Tankersley learned to hone his skills from numerous mentors during his career, many of whom were previous chiefs in the unit. Every mentor had a different lesson to teach, not just to him, but for anyone who was willing to listen.

"I worked for Chief [Randy] Barentine for seven years and from day one he was training me to replace him, teaching me how to be a chief," Tankersley said. "Another one is Roger Conrad, the fabrication supervisor whom I worked for a long time. He showed me what it takes to be a supervisor."

Tankersley said he worked with many chiefs who were great leaders and possessed an array of quality attributes. He said he learned something from all of them and tried to apply many of their qualities to his own leadership style.

"They all had their own expertise that I admired," Tankersley said.

Now with the 188th deep into an on-going mission conversion from A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" to a complex Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, space-focused targeting and remotely piloted aircraft mission, Tankersley wants to ensure his Airmen give themselves every opportunity to succeed in their careers.

"I have always hung my hat on taking care of people and making sure things are going right," Tankersley said." "My goal is to make sure we continue to do that no matter what mission we're headed in. We are going from turning wrenches to some high-tech stuff, so we have to change with that."

Tankersley joined the wing Sept. 11, 1993, as a drill-status Guardsman working in the machine shop when the 188th flew F-16 Falcons. In 1997, he began working in the shop full time. Tankersley took over as the machine shop chief in 2000, and became the fabrication section supervisor in 2007.

The rank of chief master sergeant was established by Congress in 1958, and makes up just 1 percent of the entire Air Force. Lt. Col. Anderson Neal, 188th Maintenance Group commander, lauded Tankersley's ability to lead by example. Neal said Tankersley was undoubtedly deserving of the promotion to the Air Force's highest enlisted rank.

"Chief Tankersley is one who takes on any assignment given and is not constrained by his duties or responsibilities," Neal said. "He goes to whatever lengths to get the job done. I have had the privilege of serving with Chief Tankersley when I was an enlisted Airman and consider it an honor to have recommended his promotion to chief."