Misawa Air Base, Japan -- Misawa Air Base recognized a new dedicated crew chief (DCC) at a DCC Ceremony on the flight line on Feb 23, 2022.
For more than 80 years, from the U.S. Air Army Corps to the U.S. Air Force, crew chiefs have dedicated countless hours in the rain, sleet, and snow to ensure the mission gets accomplished and pilots can deliver swift, agile air support downrange.
Crew chief is the name; maintaining, servicing, and fixing planes is their game. Once these individuals prove they have superior work performance, initiative, professionalism, and keen knowledge of the job, they can be recognized as DCCs.
Misawa Air Base recognized a new dedicated crew chief (DCC) at a DCC Ceremony on the flight line on Feb 23, 2022.
For more than 80 years, from the U.S. Air Army Corps to the U.S. Air Force, crew chiefs have dedicated countless hours in the rain, sleet, and snow to ensure the mission gets accomplished and pilots can deliver swift, agile air support downrange.
Crew chief is the name; maintaining, servicing, and fixing planes is their game. Once these individuals prove they have superior work performance, initiative, professionalism, and keen knowledge of the job, they can be recognized as DCCs.
Day in, day out, DCCs clean, inspect, service, maintain, and perform scheduled maintenance on their assigned aircraft while mentoring and training new crew chiefs.
They are at the forefront of the Air Force maintenance enterprise. They’re given direct responsibility for maintaining a single aircraft through launch, recovery, inspection, troubleshooting and maintenance.
“I spent two years of my first tour as an assistant dedicated crew chief and to come back to Misawa, a place that feels like my second home,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Gurrieri, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief. “I am overjoyed to spend more time getting to know all the strengths and weaknesses of the jet and keeping it fully mission capable, ready to fight at a moment’s notice!”
The relationship between an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot and the crew chief instills immense trust.
“It is an honor to be able to be entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining this aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Aquil Hickman, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief.
In addition to enabling the Wing’s mission, DCCs also ensure pilots have the ability to conduct their missions safely by effectively maintaining the aircraft.
“It really is a sacred relationship between a pilot and their crew chief,” said Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th Fighter Wing commander. “Throughout history, these individuals' dedication to the job has been key to allowing us to decisively deliver overwhelming airpower, ultimately displaying why we have the world's greatest Air Force and Airmen.”