JBSA- Randolph Chapel - San Antonio News

PAGE 8 WINGSPREAD MARCH 16, 2012
MARCH 16, 2012 WINGSPREAD
PAGE 9
Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis, 502nd Air Base
Wing command chief, celebrates with Joint
Base San Antonio Honor Guard members
following their graduation ceremony April 6,
2011, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Photo by Alan Boedeker
FEATURE
Chief Lewis wraps up 28-year Air Force career
By Mike Joseph
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
Public Affairs
The 502nd Air Base Wing’s
“Fired Up Chief” culminates 28
years of service to the U.S. Air
Force today at the same place
where it began – the basic military
training parade grounds
at Joint Base San Antonio-
Lackland.
Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis,
known as the “The Fired Up
Chief,” by his signature moniker
on all his email traffic,
ends his military career by
leading the Air Force’s newest
Airmen over the bomb run, and
one final time in front of the
BMT grandstand.
A fervent leader, the 502nd
ABW command chief is also
identified across JBSA for his PEP
– Pride, Enthusiasm and Passion.
It’s a message he has spread
throughout his four-year tenure
in San Antonio, first as command
chief of the 37th Training Wing,
and then at the 502nd ABW.
“The one thing I’m really going
to miss the most is helping the
Airmen,” Lewis said. “I’ll miss the
interaction with them and helping
them achieve their goals.”
As the 502nd ABW’s top enlisted
leader, Lewis was the primary
adviser to Brig. Gen. Theresa C.
Carter, 502nd ABW commander,
on all matters affecting the quality,
welfare, morale and management
of JBSA enlisted personnel.
It’s a role Lewis relished.
“We’ve got to communicate
with our Airmen in the lower
ranks, and let them communicate
with us,” Lewis said. “A great
responsibility has been placed on
our shoulders. Parents want to
know someone is going to take
care of their children when they
join the Air Force.”
A Houston native, Lewis
began his Air Force career in
1984. He served in numerous
enlisted positions, including NCO
in charge of the honor guard
and mortuary affairs at March
Air Force Base, Calif. Later, he
occupied top positions with the
48th Services Squadron, 48th
Mission Support Group and 48th
Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force
Lakenheath, England.
Then he landed his ideal job
as the 37th TRW command chief
master sergeant in 2008.
“This was my dream job and
I’ve lived the dream,” Lewis said
when he left Lackland in 2009
for his JBSA position at nearby
Fort Sam Houston.
Retiring at Lackland is
something Lewis said he’ll
always cherish.
“I could have done one more
tour, but what a place to retire –
Lackland Air Force Base, where
it all starts,” the chief said. “To
walk down the historic bomb run
in 1984 and then to retire walking
down the bomb run in 2012,
it doesn’t get any better than this.
“I look back at my time in
the Air Force and think about
all the people who helped me.
I really appreciate each and
every one of them.”
“To the family members
with heroes who are
proudly serving in the Air
Force, this was the best
decision I ever made, bar
none! Please continue to
encourage your heroes to
stick with it. It’s so funny
how fast time flies. Last
night I went to sleep and
it was 1984, today I woke
up it was 2012. Boy, have
I enjoyed the ride.”
Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis
502nd Air Base Wing command chief