JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Eleven Airmen from the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were appointed as dedicated crew chiefs during a ceremony July 14, 2019, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The DCC ceremony is a unique opportunity to recognize highly skilled tactical aircraft maintainers.
“Everybody remembers famous pilots such as Chuck Yeager, Billy Mitchell, George E. Preddy and Emilia Airheart, but do you know who crewed their aircraft?” asked Tech. Sgt. Luke Dobbs, 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron tactical aircraft maintenance specialist.
For more than 100 years, crew chiefs have played an integral part of the advancement of aviation. Pilots depend on them to know every component of their aircraft and supervise maintenance tasks across multiple specialties to ensure the aircraft is safe and fully mission capable.
“We put a lot of pressure on crew chiefs on a daily, probably more like an hourly, basis all day long,” said Col. Catherine Jumper, 192nd Maintenance Group commander. “This is our opportunity to say thanks.”
Pilots and leaders from around the wing gathered to congratulate the Airmen with certificates and customized coveralls emblazoned with patches as well as the name and tail number of their assigned F-22 Raptor.
DCC is not an Air Force specialty, rather, it is a title reserved for those who prove themselves capable to consistently deliver safe, combat ready aircraft.
“For these dedicated crew chiefs, there is no greater satisfaction or reward than seeing their aircraft taxi out, take off and return safely to base,” said Dobbs.
Part of that satisfaction may also be seeing their name on the most advanced air superiority platform in the world, right next to the pilot’s name. These crew chiefs also get to show their pride for their aircraft by making customizations to the jet.
“I personally believe that 192nd maintainers are the best in the business, and that shows when the production supervisors select aircraft for deployments,” said Jumper. “Your aircraft are supporting operations and exercises around the world, and that is a testament to all the hard work you put into making your aircraft reliable, warfighting machines.”