TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Crew chiefs were honored during a ceremony here where they were officially named dedicated crew chiefs, Sept. 30.
Tactical aircraft maintainers are commonly known as "crew chiefs" because they are generalists who coordinate the aircraft's maintenance and call in the specialists when they find a problem.
The aspiring new F-22 Raptor crew chiefs competed against each other in a series of evaluations and performance reviews determined if they could be named a dedicated crew chief. This would mean that unlike a regular crew chief, they would be assigned to a specific aircraft and even have their name displayed on its side.
“To be a dedicated crew chief is a huge responsibility,” said Senior Master Sgt. Richard McCorkle, assistant superintendent for the 95th Maintenance Squadron. “Your name is on the aircraft and it’s your job to make sure that 140 million dollar asset is working to its full potential. You’re handpicked to be put up as a dedicated crew chief by your supervision, so it’s an honor for anyone to be nominated. Once they’re nominated we grade them on everything from their uniform appearance to the aircraft maintenance itself.”
The crew chiefs received their certification and awards by an officer of their choice at the ceremony.
Teamwork between Airmen in several different Air Force specialty codes is vital to maintaining the aircraft that provides air dominance for combatant commanders.
"Being a dedicated crew chief means I'm in charge of one of the jets out here," said Staff Sgt. Michael England, 325th AMXS dedicated crew chief. "From the maintenance to the cleanliness, I'm in charge of the aircraft's overall condition. This includes both the weapons and fuels as well. It's all on me, it’s a lot of pressure, but also a huge honor at the same time."
Crew chiefs play a vital role at Tyndall by maintaining and repairing the F-22 Raptor. They also perform inspections on the aircraft before and after the pilots take off and land. According to McCorkle, crew chiefs at Tyndall maintain 30 percent of the F-22s in the Air Force.