Secretary Donley nominated for Order of the Sword

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Chris Vadnais
  • Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) --  The enlisted men and women of the United States Air Force nominated the service's senior civilian for induction into the Air Force Order of the Sword Jan 23 here.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley accepted the nomination from then-Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy at a meeting with former chief master sergeants of the Air Force and current combatant-level and major command-level command chief master sergeants.

"You have always shown care and concern for enlisted men and women," Roy said while making the announcement. "This group -- these chiefs, represent all the enlisted men and women across the United States Air Force, and we are very, very proud of you as our leader," he said.

The secretary said the nomination was a distinct honor.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be placed in the company of the many great Air Force leaders who have been given this award," Donley said, "more importantly, I'm honored to daily serve alongside the finest enlisted corps our Air Force has ever seen."

The Order of the Sword recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the enlisted corps. The ceremonial presentation was adopted from the Royal Order of the Sword and passed to the United States during the Revolutionary War. However, it lay dormant until it was reinstituted in its current form in 1967.

The Order of the Sword has been given to 246 people. Donley is the third secretary of the Air Force to be inducted into the order. He follows the Honorable F. Whitten Peters, inducted in 2000, and the Honorable James A. Roche, inducted in 2003.