TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- His journey brought him to Langley Air Force Base, Va., in May 2009. Going from being a humbled Airman working the flight line as a technical sergeant, pushing his toolbox from aircraft to aircraft, to being promoted to master sergeant in October 2010 through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.
Walker credits many of his professional successes to his wingmen and the support of his family. He also gives great credit to his parents the Rev. Luther Walker and Rudine Walker, who at one point were urged not to have him.
“The doctors told my parents not to have children,” Walker said. “But they both came together and decided to go through with it anyway.”
Mrs. Walker gave birth to Max at the expense of losing one of her kidneys and severe bleeding.
“Since my birth there’s always been an iron cord between me and my parents,” Walker said. “By God’s grace my mother operated perfectly on one kidney for forty-two years after having me, but unfortunately that one strong little kidney quit working in 2015.”
“Through tons and tons of prayer my mother received a kidney transplant in July of 2016 from my sister-in-Christ Dana Edson from Kerrville, Texas, whom I love with all of my heart. On top of all of that, the Air Force allowed me to be with her for two weeks in her time of need.”
“The entire experience was almost too surreal and somewhat embarrassing at first,” said Senior Master Sgt. Max Walker, 43d Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant superintendent. “When I went back to work the next day, I wanted to blend in with my team so I removed my [Airman Battle uniform] blouse. I was approached by one of the other senior NCOs who said to me ‘Senior NCOs keep their ABU blouses on’…reason was that if he were to go to a work detail, he is looking for the Airman with their top on and that tells him who’s in charge.”
Walker would meet another senior NCO who would leave a lasting impression on him. A person who would not only change his perspective on his daily tasks but also life within the community.
“I met Master Sgt. James “Rudy” Rudisel while I was stationed at [Joint Base Eustis-Langley], Va.,” Walker said. “He expressed to me that throughout his Air Force career, he didn’t take full advantage of learning the whole Airman concept, and he would not allow me to become that way, so he figuratively held me on his shoulders to prevent me from drowning in the daily throws of aircraft maintenance. Rudy allowed me the freedoms to learn the job and get involved in base activities at the same time.”
“Despite all the great things my leaders did for me in the past, the one thing I wasn’t accomplishing was being a mentor,” Walker added. “This is what I had to learn quickly as a new master sergeant, just as Master Sgt. Parker once told me in basic training ‘you better get it right on the first try’. That desire ultimately turned into me pursuing goals to become a first sergeant.”
Walker soon found himself in that very situation as the first sergeant for the 1st Operations Group at JBLE. To Walker’s surprise he would run into an old teammate from the USAF Thunderbirds who was serving as the Operations Group Commander.
At the end of the year 2011, Walker was selected to deploy to Afghanistan to serve as the 455th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant with (at the time) Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Sherman.
“Colonel Sherman was and is a rock star, the amount of energy he brought everyday was unbelievable,” Walker said with exaltation. “Also the fact that we shared and practiced the same faith in God was hands down the absolute best. Taking care of Airman was our number one priority.”
At the completion of his deployment, Walker found himself back in the maintenance world as the 1st Maintenance Squadron first sergeant at JBLE.
Working with Air Force Lt. Col. Schultz, Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Echols and the guidance of his command Chief Master Sgt. Emmette “Lucky” Bush, he was selected for the rank of senior master sergeant in 2014.
After a PCS to Tyndall AFB, Fla., Walker achieved what only 1 percent of the total active duty force can, and on December 8, 2016 was selected for the rank of chief master sergeant.
“At this point I’m just truly thrilled to be able to continue to be utilized as an Air Force leader,” Walker said, “All I can think to do now is to just keep continuing to strive and paying it forward like my teammates did before me.”
“I would say that this journey couldn’t have begun without my first chief coming to me and ripping up my shaving waiver,” he said. “With him doing that, he showed that he cared enough about me to not allow me to slip into what everyone else was doing.”
Walker now continues his role as the 43d AMU assistant superintendent and is always looking for opportunities around the wing to provide a positive role model for Airmen.
“I would say that this journey couldn’t have begun without my first chief coming to me and ripping up my shaving waiver,” he said. “With him doing that, he showed that he cared enough about me to not allow me to slip into what everyone else was doing.”
“The foundation that you put in now as a junior Airman will carry you to your dreams and desires in the future, that is what I encourage to all aspiring career Airmen.”