KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- After 30 years of taking care of Airmen and serving his country, Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Barnby said farewell to the 403rd Wing and Air Force Reserve during a retirement ceremony today at 9 a.m. in the Fuel Cell at Keesler Air Force Base.
The command chief has served as the advisor to the 403rd Wing commander on matters of welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and professional development of the wing’s 1,400 enlisted members since 2014.
“He has had an impact,” said retired Col. Michael Manion, former 403rd Wing commander and vice commander who presided over the retirement ceremony.
The chief served as his command chief here and as his first sergeant at the 908th Operational Support Squadron commander at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
“He is a tremendous person who is very humble,” said Manion. “I have the deepest respect for all you have done. It is a sad day. We are losing a great one, but I know he has worked hard to mentor the next generation.”
The chief joined the Air Force Reserve a year after graduating high school in 1988. He was an F-15 crew chief with the 402nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, at Robins AFB, Georgia. Three years later he deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm as an aircraft battle damage repairman. He returned to his unit where he then served as an ABDR instructor and evaluator, an assistant team chief, and later as a quality assurance assistant superintendent with the 622nd CLSS until 2005.
He had just make senior master sergeant when he found out his unit was closing. He transferred to the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell AFB. He served as an aircraft maintenance production superintendent for four years there and decided he wanted to do something different.
“I was talking to another chief about how the wing and Air Force Reserve Command needed first sergeants,” he said. “It was always cool to see an F-15 take off, but after about 100 of them the shine loses its luster, and it becomes a job; but when you start leading and mentoring and you see Airmen’s lives changed … that’s an intangible that you can’t put a price tag on.”
According to Air Force Instruction 36-2113, first sergeants advise the commander on all matters concerning enlisted Airmen and ensuring the enlisted force understands the commander's policies, goals and objectives in order to build and maintain a mission-ready force. Some of their duties include mentoring Airmen, getting them recognized for their achievements, caring for their well-being and helping them make decisions regarding career progression and professional development.
“Here he was a senior master sergeant, but he knew he could do more, and he wanted to do more,” said Manion. “He took off a stripe to become a first sergeant. He knew that in that position he could better affect the Airmen and make change.”
“It was a loss of about $20 or $30 dollars a month,” said Barnby. “I had the time-in-grade and time-in-service to retire as a senior so I wasn’t worried about retirement.”
In 2010, he stepped into the role of first sergeant for the 908th OSS.
Chief Barnby is always looking for an opportunity to mentor the next generation of Airmen, said Manion.
“He cares about Airmen,” said Manion. “He leads by example and is a tireless champion for Airmen.”
That passion for the job was soon recognized. He was named the 908th Airlift Wing First Sergeant of the Year for 2012 and he also earned the 2010 and 2012 Alabama Governor’s Award. After returning from his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the first sergeant at Bagram Airfield Afghanistan, he was assigned as the first sergeant for the 908th Security Forces Squadron in 2012. It was shortly after that, when he was informed that he was promoted back to senior master sergeant under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program.
And a couple years later he was hired as the 403rd Wing command chief, and promoted to chief master sergeant in 2014.
Every day as a command chief came with its own set of unique challenges, but it was all very rewarding, he said.
“I work hard to remain relevant so I understand where the Airmen are coming from and what is on their plate. So my challenges are their challenges, which can range from issues due to lack of funding, due to the lack of a budget, and to too many additional duties.”
During the ceremony, the chief thanked all of the people who influenced his career which included his family, friends, civilian employer, wing leadership, and fellow wing members.
“I haven’t done anything special, but all of you have,” said the chief who also offered some words of advice to Airmen.
“Don’t be an E; it’s a pay grade. Be a leader,” he said. “We need airman basics to chiefs; leadership is a choice, a decision; it’s not a job title.”
The chief said he got some great advice early in his career from another chief who told him to quit chasing a stripe, quit focusing on yourself, and see what miracles happens.
“You learn and you grow; I may not have always been successful and made some mistakes along the way, but I certainly quit chasing a stripe,” he said. “I stopped focusing on myself, and started taking care of Airmen. We are not put on this planet for ourselves; we are put on this planet for each other. That’s why teams succeed and that’s why we are successful as a wing.”
Manion closed his comments during the ceremony with some words from Barnby.
“In the end, it’s not about the boards or medals they have; it’s about the impact they have on those individuals that they have worked for, with, led and loved,” said Manion.
Barnby did just that and concluded his career surrounded by family and the wing members he served entrusting the future to the Airmen who will someday take his place.