Chief McKinley awards rank of honorary chief

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Sean E. Cobb
  • Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AFPN) --  An "Airman among Airmen" was awarded the honorary rank and title of a chief master sergeant in the Air Force during a ceremony here May 23. 

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, joined by more than 450 senior enlisted leaders attending the Airmen's Heritage Banquet during the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit here, honored Arthur J. Myers, director of Air Force Services at the Pentagon, with the honorary rank. 

Now a member of the Air Force Senior Executive Service, Mr. Myers began his career as an enlisted man, retiring in 1982 after 20 years of service. 

"Mr. Myers remains focused on supporting the entire enlisted force, from our airmen basic through chief master sergeant," Chief McKinley said. "He is a man of uncompromising principles who works diligently on behalf of all Airmen and their families -- officer, enlisted and civilian," he said. 

"I'm humbled by this great honor," Mr. Myers said after Chief McKinley presented him with a wooden plaque in the shape of a chief master sergeant chevron. "Thank you, thank you all very much," he added. 

Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, also highlighted Mr. Myers' service to Airmen. 

"In well over 40 years of service, he has maintained an unwavering commitment to better the lives of our Airmen and their families.  Tonight that service is honored," General Newton said. 

During his time at Air Force Services, Mr. Myers integrated food service; lodging; mortuary affairs; and the morale, welfare and recreation communities into one organization: Air Force Services. 

Mr. Myers' influence and efforts were critical to the establishment of the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program, Chief McKinley said. 

"The program originally focused on taking care of the families of those lost in military aircraft mishaps," he said. "As we became more involved in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Myers expanded the program to taking care of our wounded in action and their families." 

Mr. Myers also devotes much of his efforts to improving the lives and quality of life for Airmen and their families. Recently in his tenure, he secured quality-of-life funding to upgrade inadequate fitness centers around the Air Force and then arranged for the construction of 36 new fitness centers, funded at a total cost of $352 million, according to Air Forces Services officials. 

Mr. Myers pioneered several Air Force child care programs to make child care more available and affordable, while meeting the highest standards of care, Chief McKinley said. 

"Thanks to his leadership, the child development program cares for more than 55,000 children a day," he said. "Mr. Myers has built a very responsive organization that surges to meet any need, any time, and anywhere, from the front lines to the home front. I am proud to call him 'chief.'" 

"It's an honor to serve alongside Mr. Myers and we should all be extremely proud of him and all he does to make our Air Force great," General Newton said. 

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