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New Command Chief at 179th Airlift Wing

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood
  • 179th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office
Members of the 179th Airlift Wing welcome a new Command Chief Master Sgt. to the 179th Airlift Wing. Although he is new to the position, he is the furthest thing from a new face at the installation. For years, Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas A. Jones has been taking good care of his fellow airmen.

Jones started his military career in the spring of 1984 as an active duty Marine in the 78th Aviation Flight Equipment. After his tour with the Marines, he enlisted with the 179th Airlift Wing Aerial Port Squadron and spent just 6 months there before taking a full time position in the Aircrew Flight Equipment of the 164th Airlift Squadron where he would remain until 2006 when he took a position in the Logistics Readiness Squadron. As a member of the Base Honor Guard, he served his community and got to know even more people. In that time, Jones has seen deployments to Talil, Iraq, Ali Al Salem, Uzbekistan, and Oman. His home life has been full of adventure as well, fathering two sets of twins. Jones added, "I was 42 when we had the boys, our life has been pretty interesting!"

In Ohio, the airmen of the 179th Airlift Wing came to know Jones as the guy to go see who would help you out when it was time to sew on that next rank. In the 1980's, when he began the side project, he set the price at merely $3 to sew your new stripes on and he never raised the price.

Jones said, "I wore out two sewing machines. It was never about making money, I got to know people sewing, and I enjoyed that. Getting to help my fellow airmen out and congratulate them on their new rank."

During his long career on base he has seen many of those familiar faces rise in the ranks as well as many that have come and gone. Six Command Chief Master Sgt.'s have come and gone in that time. Jones said. "I never once thought that I would become the Command Chief Master Sgt. of this unit, it is a tremendous honor. This unit is full of awesome people, the teamwork and dedication I have seen these people commit to is second to none. The mentors I have had along the way play a big part, I attribute some of my success to stepping out of my comfort zone and switching career fields, it really broadens your scope."

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