New command chief not new in his role

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Anderson arrived at Malmstrom just a few short weeks ago, but he couldn't be happier to be here or be more enthusiastic about the challenges that lie ahead in his first assignment at an Air Force Global Strike Command base.

"I have some big shoes to fill, following Chief Kent," the new command chief master sergeant said. "But I am honored to be given the opportunity to continue forging ahead with the things that she started."

Chief Anderson joins the leadership team here following two tours at Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he first served at the command chief for Detachment 11, 9th Air Force for a year before Langley and Fort Eustis combined to form Joint Base Langley-Eustis, where he served for another year in the top enlisted position.

Prior to that assignment, the Chief had his only other Northern tier assignment from September 2007-September 2009 at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.

"Believe it or not, we really enjoyed our time at Grand Forks," Chief Anderson said. "We love the snow and we love having four seasons so we are excited to be coming back [to the Northern tier]. If it wasn't 20-below [at Grand Forks], we were out in it every day."

He described his first impressions of his new home here as "top notch."

"When we first drove in here, to see the base and the infrastructure, and the tremendous interaction everyone has with the local community - it was amazing," Chief Anderson said.

But even more impressive to him are the Airmen he's come here to lead and represent.

"I spent my first week, before I even got in the chair, doing immersions with all of the groups and I am amazed at how young and how professional these Airmen are," Chief Anderson said. "E-5's on down are carrying the load of what goes on here day in and day out, and they are completing the mission. They're doing it, they're happy about doing it and it's perfection all the time. What I saw was just jaw-dropping."

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., and raised in the metro area, Chief Anderson is the oldest of four boys. He graduated from Bergen Catholic High School and after two failed attempts at attending college, he enlisted in the Air Force. Twenty-six years later, his four-year "hitch" continues on.

He has a very strong mission support background, specifically in the information technology, communications and personnel readiness arenas. He intends to lean on those strengths to forge ahead while here at Malmstrom.

Admitting this is his first exposure ever to the ICBM mission, Chief Anderson quickly picked up on how everyone works together to keep the nuclear deterrent mission on track.

"There are so many moving parts here to make things happen," Chief Anderson said. "The way that Security Forces interacts with the Maintenance Group who in turn interacts with the Operations Group -- it is all the parts that make up the whole. It is incredible coordination, but they do it all the time and they get it done. There is a much better cross-flow of communication here than I have seen at other bases."

As he embarks on the newest leg of his military career, Chief Anderson is humble in his successes and simplistic in his goals.

"I want to continue making people happy and helping them along the way," he said. "When my time is up here, I want to look back and be satisfied with what I was able to accomplish."

Asked what the greatest lesson he's ever learned was, he quickly, but simply said, "There's two sides to every story."

When asked what the easiest decision he ever had to make was, he just as quickly and just as simply said, "Accepting this assignment to Malmstrom."

Chief Anderson is joined by his wife, Wendy, and six children Gabsy, 15; Carissa, 14; Chip, 12; Pete, 8; Scott, 5; and Kate, 2.