Dec. 3, 2016 --
In the history of Tennessee, there has never been an active First
Sergeant promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant…until now.
Chief Master Sgt. Stanley
Drozdowski, a First Sergeant in the 134th Air Refueling Wing was promoted to the
highest enlisted rank in the U. S. Air Force on Dec. 3 here.
“It is significant, because traditionally
across the country, the only Chief First Sergeant billet that exists is the
functional manager at the National Guard Bureau,” said Chief Master Sgt.
Richard Parker Jr., Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 134th ARW. “There is
no other slotted Chief to be a First Sergeant anywhere in the country.”
The promotion enables Drozdowski to
give a unique two fold perspective to the Tennessee Air National Guard.
“It opens doors for a Chief to walk
in the commander’s office and sit down and give that Chief perspective,” said
Parker. “Which is not only a First Sergeant perspective but a Chief First Sergeant’s
perspective to that commander.”
“I think it is pretty invaluable,”
said Parker. “It opens doors across the country to certain leadership meetings
that he will now be invited to attend as a Chief, but now as a Chief First Sergeant
sitting at that table, it opens a lot of doors.”
Drozdowski has a good base of
knowledge about a lot of different things that is going to help out his role as
a Chief and as an advisor to the commander.
We send our best and brightest, I’m really proud of him and his family
for sticking with it” said Parker.
Drozdowski, a 19-year veteran, has
been a First Sergeant for six years in different sections including; Security
Forces, Mission Support Group, and Wing Staff at McGhee Tyson.
“Having good mentors, good leaders,
people directing me in the right place, being prepared, having my Professional Military
Education and college done, attributed to my success,” said Drozdowski.
Since Tennessee has never had a
First Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant, it’s a rare occasion nationwide, and was
thought to be unobtainable.
“With time and patience and doing
the right things, I was able to achieve that goal,” said Drozdowski. “It is a
great feeling to represent Tennessee as the first Chief Master Sergeant First
Sergeant.”
Drozdowski’s plans are to keep
mentoring and leading our Airmen.
“We have a great family here, a lot
of great things are happening here in the 134th and I hope it continues,” he
said. “As a Chief I hope to continue that legacy of bringing up our Airmen the
right way, and developing them into great Airmen and great leaders.”