Meet Malmstrom’s new command chief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  With more than 20 years of service under his belt in the United States Air Force and a drive that has propelled him into new challenges and adventures, it was finally time for Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Stiles to take the reigns as Malmstrom's new command chief.

Before accepting his assignment to Malmstrom, Stiles served as superintendent for the 5th Medical Group at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

He assumed his current position in June of this year, serving as the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning morale, welfare, health and discipline for the more than 3,000 Airmen on base.

"My goal as Malmstrom's new command chief is to improve on the excellence that is already here," Stiles said. "The mission that has been going on here continuously for more than 50 years is incredible.

"One of my favorite quotes is 'never confuse my love of success for fear of failure,'" he continued. "My belief is to not always get lost in the numbers, but work my hardest every day to make a positive impact on even one individual."

After graduating high school in Watertown, New York, Stiles entered the military a year later and started his career in the Air Force, serving in numerous dental and professional military education communities.

During his 22 years of military service, he has had the opportunity to hold a variety of positions, which have helped him build the skills needed to become a leader.

Some of his previous assignments include a position as superintendent to the Community College of the Air Force at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; superintendent to the 18th Dental Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and superintendent to the 60th Dental Squadron at Travis AFB, California.

As an avid hobbyist, Stiles loves diving into new challenges and living life to the fullest. He is currently attempting to master his skills on the ukulele.

He has even taken on a restoration project in the form of restoring a 1964 split window Volkswagen bus.

"I think I drive my wife crazy because I'm a hobby jumper," he said with a smile.
For him, no matter the task, he will set his mind to accomplishing the goal set before him.

As Malmstrom's new command chief, it is clear to see that Stiles is ready to tackle any challenges that await. Ambition, charisma and determination are traits that may easily be seen in his character, and he leaves no stone unturned in his quest to better the nuclear force.

"To me, no other mission set can do what they do without having the security and deterrence we provide," Stiles said. "It's the silent sentinels who provide the freedoms that we celebrate."

In his words, improving on the excellence Team Malmstrom has achieved will be one of his biggest challenges during his time here, but pushing the team every day to be its best is one challenge he looks forward to every morning.

"Every day I have to ask myself, 'did I do that more for me or did I do that for the team,'" Stiles said. "As long as I know that I'm doing it for the team, then I'm doing it for the right reasons."