7/6/2007 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley paid a visit here June 27 and spoke to students at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy and Air Force First Sergeants Academy at Gunter Annex about Air Force priorities and issues that affect enlisted members.
He also took a few moments to field questions on the upcoming Senior Enlisted Leadership Summit scheduled for July 21-27.
The Summit replaces the annual Worldwide Command Chief Conference, which brought together command chiefs from throughout the Air Force to discuss issues important to Airmen.
"We wanted to add other valuable senior enlisted leaders to the invite list to broaden the scope and impact of the conference," Chief McKinley said.
This year, career field managers, professional military education commandants and other senior enlisted leaders will join together with command chiefs.
"Bringing these groups together at the summit will improve communication between our senior enlisted leadership and allow us to work through issues that affect our great Airmen together," he said.
The different perspective brought by those holding various leadership positions will be extremely valuable, the chief said.
"What I'm looking for from the summit is results," he said. "I would like to walk out of the summit with some clear objectives for all of us to work together on for the betterment of our Air Force," he said.
The chief said he also looks forward to the improved communication and camaraderie that the summit will foster.
The summit also will be the springboard for a heritage dinner commemorating 60 years of enlisted heritage. The dinner will be held July 26 downtown in Montgomery. The dinner will be open to local Air Force members, and reduced tickets will be available for junior Airmen.
"This is going to be a great event and we want our young Airmen to experience it as well," the chief said.
The event also will honor the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Paul Airey. This year marks the 40th year of the establishment of the office of the chief master sergeant of the Air Force and his appointment as the first top enlisted leader.
"Overall, the summit promises to give senior enlisted leaders information and motivation," Chief McKinley said. He also plans to hold summits in the future. "Our hope is that this will be something so successful that we'll do it every year to continually find ways to improve what is already a great enlisted force."
