SMSgt (First Sergeant/Retired) Nicole Brown shares her thoughts and perspectives on how effective Chiefs realize that they "don't know everything" (lesson # 2), based on her experience.

CMSgt Sharla Kostielney is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. She is the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning the readiness, training, morale, health, welfare, effective utilization, and discipline for nearly 4,000 military. Malmstrom Airmen support the nation’s nuclear surety objectives by operating, maintaining, and securing 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities. The wing operates and maintains 15 missile alert facilities located in a 13,800 square-mile complex.CMSgt Kostielney entered the Air Force in August 1997.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. She serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of more than 600,000 Total Force Airmen. Chief Bass is the 19th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position.Chief Bass was raised as an Army dependent, living in several overseas and stateside locations, prior to entering the Air Force in 1993.

Chief Master Sergeant Philip B. McAlpin Jr., is the Senior EnlistedLeader for the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, Royal Air ForceMildenhall, United Kingdom. Chief McAlpin serves as thecommander’s principle advisor on all enlisted matters inprofessional development, manpower, training, and readiness. Heis entrusted with ensuring 320 highly trained Total Force Engineersand 44 mobility teams are prepared to execute the 100th AirRefueling Wing’s "Anytime, Anywhere" combat support andcontingency operations missions throughout the European andAfrican area of responsibility. His Team’s personnel spans 27 AirForce specialties enabling the maintenance and sustainment of$2.8 Billion dollars in base infrastructure. Lastly, he provides soundleadership to the Wing’s critical Fire Protection and EmergencyServices, Emergency Management, and Environmental Protectioncapabilities safeguarding 16,000 military and civilian personnel.Chief McAlpin was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania andenlisted in the Air Force in 2001.

Chief Master Sergeant James Pope is the acting CommandChief of the 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval AirFacility Washington, Maryland. In this role, he advises thecommander on all enlisted matters and on issues regardingthe welfare, readiness, utilization, morale, and quality of life forpersonnel across five wings, three headquarters, and over 80tenant organizations, as well as 60,000 military and civilianAirmen, and families in the National Capital Region andaround the world. The 316th Wing supports contingencyoperations in our nation’s capital with immediate responserotary wing assets. It also provides security for the world’shighest visibility flight line and is responsible for operations ofthe Air Force Memorial and the Air Force Chaplaincy.Chief Pope was raised as an Air Force dependent, living inseveral stateside and overseas locations, prior to entering theAir Force in 1995.

Chief Master Sergeant Carlos Sanchez is assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as the Chief Enlisted Manager of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight. He leads 54 military and civilian Airmen in support of the Air Force’s largest fighter wing mission, consisting of F-16 and F-35 aircraft operating on the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Military Training Range. He manages EOD operations to locate, identify, disarm, neutralize, recover, and dispose of incendiary, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazards posing threats to the base and civilian populace throughout the state of Arizona. Additionally, he provides highly trained EOD teams to supplement United States Secret Service and Department of State personnel charged with protecting the President, Vice President, and other foreign dignitaries. Chief Sanchez was born and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut and entered the Air Force in August 2002.

Chief Master Sergeant Reynaldo Garcia, Jr., is the Senior Enlisted Leaderfor the 96th Communications Squadron, 96th Test Wing, Eglin Air ForceBase Florida. He leads 345 military, civilian and contract personnelperforming Cyber Defense and Communications support vital to Eglin’s $4billion weapons Research, Development, Test and Evaluation mission. Heguides the management, operations and sustainment of Eglin’s $1.4 billioncommunications infrastructure to support 21,000 joint service personnelfrom 5 MAJCOMs, 9 Wing/Wing-equivalents and 35 mission partners acrossthe Air Force’s largest installation encompassing over 724 square miles. Heis responsible for the leadership, development, morale and welfare of thesquadron’s enlisted, officer and civilian force and serves as primary advisorto the commander on all professional and personnel matters.Chief Garcia enlisted in the Air Force on 24 November 1997 as a Satelliteand Wideband Systems Technician.

Chief Master Sgt. James Seballes served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), temporarily located at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. STARCOM was established as a Field Command 23 August 2021.  The command is responsible for preparing, developing, and delivering more than 8,600 Guardians to enable the United States Space Force to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine, and test activities. Chief Seballes grew up in Austin, Texas. He enlisted into the United States Air Force in  June 1994.

Chief Master Sergeant Karmann-Monique Pogue serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), temporarily headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. STARCOM was established as a Field Command 23 August 2021. The command is responsible for preparing, developing, and delivering more than 8,600 Guardians to enable the United States Space Force to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine, and test activities. CMSgt Pogue enlisted in the Air Force in May 1999 as a Space Systems Operator (1C6X1).

Chief Master Sergeant Candi R. Schneider is the United States Space Force First Sergeant, Headquarters United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. Serves as advisor to the CMSSF, CSO, and Air Force Element Leaders on the readiness, health, wellness, morale, and quality of life of all assigned Air Force Personnel. She works closely with Air and Space Forces Senior Enlisted Leaders on all matters concerning the manning and utilization of Airmen assigned to or supporting Space Force units. She is thoroughly familiar with the first sergeant special duty and liaises with the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force on issues and concerns regarding Airmen. Chief Schneider coordinates with the Air Force 8F000 Special Duty Manager on the readiness, training, and utilization of Air Force first sergeants. She conducts trend analysis on manning and projected vacancies. Chief Schneider coordinates on all policy changes or exceptions concerning first sergeants or first sergeant authorizations within the United States Space Force. Chief Schneider enlisted in the United States Air Force November 1996 in El Paso, Texas.

Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Robinson is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 100th Mission Support Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He is the principle advisor to the commander on all enlisted matters influencing the readiness, morale, and welfare of the enlisted force spanning the full range of diversified personnel and support programs to 1,600 total force Airmen.Chief Robinson enlisted in the Air Force in January 1998.

Chief Master Sergeant Keith Castille serves as Senior Enlisted Leader, Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Talent Management Cell, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He delivers Department of the Air Force talent management initiatives and develops Air Force-level policy and procedures across talent management life cycles. Chief Castille oversees research and analysis teams to develop, adapt best-practices and identifies innovative solutions to current and future human resource challenges. He is responsible for synchronizing talent management efforts across the Secretary of the Air Force and Department of the Air Force staffs and prepares the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force for senior-level decision forums, congressional testimonies, and other engagements. Chief Castille develops proposals, Air Force-wide implementation plans, and shapes Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force key messaging to the force. Serving as advisor to the AirForce Senior Enlisted Leader Council, he helps shape Air Force-wide policy and programs to deliver ready Airmen to fight and win…for today and tomorrow. Chief Castille served previously as the Chief, Enlisted Force Development strategizing efforts to address the SecAF, CSAF, and CMSAF priorities.Chief Castille joined the Air Force in 1995.

CMSgt Allison L. Garces is the Administration and Management Superintendent at the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Pentagon, Washington D.C. She assists in a wide range of manpower and personnel, administrative, and executive support actions and the provision of senior enlisted viewpoints on policy issues, Department of Defense issuances, and relevant enlisted matters for 2.1 million active and reserve service members within all the Services.Chief Garces entered the Air Force Reserve in August 2002.

Chief Master Sergeant Joe Bogdan is the Chief of Enlisted Force Development, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He leads and coordinates enlisted leadership and developmental efforts to address the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force priorities. He shapes foundational policy, programs, and guidance and drives strategic initiatives to advance the education, training, growth, and readiness of over 410,000 Total Force Airmen. He is also a principal advisor to the Air Force’s Senior Enlisted Leader Council.  Chief Bogdan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 2001.

Chief Master Sergeant Adam J. Boubede is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 86th Civil Engineer Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Civil Engineer Group Commander on matters influencing readiness, morale, health, wellness, training, effective utilization, and professional development of 1,234 military and civilian personnel spanning two squadrons and 18 distinct career fields. Chief Boubede is from New Orleans, Louisiana. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in June 2003.

DJ Vanas, an internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author, is a powerhouse speaker for Fortune 500 companies, hundreds of tribal nations, and over 7000 audiences nationwide. He has also spoken at the White House. More important than all of that is that he’s my Chosen Brother! He wrote the foreword to my book, So Ya Wanna Be THE Chief?!, and has mentored me in several areas of my life.  An enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe of Michigan, he was born to impoverished teenage parents. He went from sleeping in a drawer for the first three months of his life to becoming a proud graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a decorated Air Force captain, a renowned member of the tribal community, a bestselling author, and a revered motivational speaker. A true warrior, who is successful in both business and life, he credits these personal triumphs to traditional teachings and ceremony as well as his service as a military officer.