Paul Airey, the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, received a memorable birthday present when Tyndall AFB, Fla., officials renamed the NCO Academy there in his honor. The dedication ceremony also marked the beginning of the academy’s 50th year of service. Airey, who retired at Tyndall in 1970, said, “I am proud and a little in awe,” while CMSgt. Thomas Schwenk, commandant of the NCOA, called him a “trailblazer for the enlisted corps.”
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
