By Airman 1st Class C. Todd Lopez
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (Nov. 05, 1999) -- No fanfare, no parade, and that's just the way he likes it. Chief Master Sgt. William A. Scott became the 436th Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant Oct. 28 when he arrived at Dover Air Force Base from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
Scott is the second chief master sergeant to hold the position, replacing Chief Master Sergeant Jeffrey Lewin who retired in August.
Previously, Chief Scott was assigned in Germany as a Field Training Detachment Chief for Air Education and Training Command, where he was responsible for providing training to enlisted maintainers who are tasked with keeping the Air Force fleet of aircraft in the air.
As the Eagle Wing's command chief, Scott is responsible for voicing the concerns of more than 3,000 enlisted members and their families to the wing commander, and it's a job he looks forward to.
"There's nothing here for me to gain personally," Scott said. "I've made chief, the Air Force isn't going to promote me again. I'm here to help the people in the wing, and make Dover a better place."
Scott believes he can best do that by getting out and meeting the constituency he represents.
"I hope to meet as many of the enlisted members on base as I can, and help them with any problems they might have," the 26-year Air Force veteran said. "I'm here for them, they can come to me anytime and talk about anything they need to talk about. My door is always open."
The new command chief master sergeant says he has no preconceptions about what needs to be accomplished during his tenure here at Dover. The bottom line for him is leaving the base better off for his having served here.
"I need to get around and see what needs to be worked on and take on one project at a time," Scott said. "I'm here to be the eyes and ears of the commander, and a voice for our enlisted members. When an issue of importance comes up, we'll work it together."
Scott and Gilbert have worked together twice in the past, and Scott says he has an outstanding relationship with the Wing Commander.
"Colonel Gilbert and I go back a few bases," Scott said. "He and I were stationed together at Malmstrom Force Base in Montana, where he was my squadron commander in the 91st Air Refueling Squadron. He caught up to me again at McConnell, where he was the Operations Group commander. As we left Kansas, we left on the same day, he told me that if he ever got a wing, I'd get a phone call. That's how I was selected and that's why I'm here."
Chief Scott plans to hold an Enlisted Call sometime in the near future. He looks forward to the open forum where he can address first-hand the concerns of the base's enlisted corps.
"Everyone can come out and take some potshots at me," he said with a small laugh. "That's the best way I have to get a feel for what's going on with our people. Hopefully, I'll also be able to pass on some important information. Sometimes our lower ranking folks don't get a chance to hear what's going on about issues that affect them."
Scott looks forward to the challenge of serving as the command chief for the only active duty all C-5 base in the Air Force.
"Until two days ago, I'd never seen this base in the daylight," Scott said. "I've passed through here a couple of times while I was TDY, but never during the day, and it was busy then. I've been told there's a rich history here and that this is one of the busiest bases in the Air Force. I know the men and women who are stationed here must work awful hard to keep the mission going, and I'll work hard to serve their interests well while I'm here."