Dedicated crew chiefs can proclaim, ‘That’s my aircraft’ Published Feb. 9, 2007 By Nicole Campbell Staff Writer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- More than a dozen crew chiefs from 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were honored in a ceremony Feb. 1, and awarded the title "dedicated crew chief." They are each now assigned to an aircraft that they will stay with until they leave Pope. Col. Bryan Beardon, 43rd Maintenance Group commander, spoke briefly to the awardees, and Lt. Col. Benjamin Snow, 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, handed out certificates. "This is all about dedication to the Air Force, to the job and now to the aircraft," Colonel Beardon said. "As an operator, the crew chief was the only person I talked to when I approached my aircraft, and through that interface I learned to appreciate maintainers." The Airmen were competitively selected and chosen because they were "the best of the best," said the ceremony's narrator, 2nd Lt. Sean Rodgers. He added that as dedicated crew chiefs they will provide continuity, maintenance and enhanced appearance to the aircraft, which will keep the aircraft operating longer and save the Air Force money. Colonel Beardon said the crew chiefs would have to work a little harder, but that being a dedicated crew chief was a great opportunity and he was proud that they had been selected. The following Airmen from 43rd AMXS were honored in the Feb. 1, "Dedicated Crew Chief" ceremony: Tech. Sgt. Michael Yossett Staff Sgt. Raul Berrera Staff Sgt. Paul Collier Staff Sgt. Jeraldo Fernandez Staff Sgt. Joseph Hardy Staff Sgt. Joshua Heemsoth Staff Sgt. Jason Lecuyer Staff Sgt. Jason Miller Staff Sgt. Jacob Nix Staff Sgt. Thomas Patterson Staff Sgt. Jason Smith Saff Sgt. Michael Templeton Staff Sgt. Adam Tolman Staff Sgt. Gordon Torrey