Chief Sullens

An Airman briefs Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Sullens, Air Combat Command command chief, on the role the 586th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron plays in Operation Iraqi Freedom on Nov. 19 at an air base in Southwest Asia. Chief Sullens visited with Airmen throughout the Central command area of responsibility to see how the mission is progressing, addressing their concerns and thanking them for their service. (Courtesy photo)

Chief Sullens

Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Sullens, Air Combat Command command chief, discusses deployment preparations with security forces and explosive ordnance disposal Airmen at a forward operating base in Afghanistan on Nov. 19. Chief Sullens visited with Airmen throughout the Central command area of responsibility to see how the mission is progressing, addressing their concerns and thanking them for their service. (Courtesy photo)

ACC top enlisted visits ‘extraordinary Airmen doing extraordinary things’

A 386th Expeditionary Wing Airman briefs Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Sullens, Air Combat Command command chief, on the base's fitness programs during the command chief's visit on Nov. 19. Chief Sullens visited with Airmen throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to see how the mission is progressing, addressing their concerns and thanking them for their service.

ACC top enlisted visits ‘extraordinary Airmen doing extraordinary things’

Published Dec. 4, 2008
By Air Forces Central Public Affairs
Combined Air and Space Operations Center

SOUTHWEST ASIA - -- The command chief of Air Combat Command recently traveled through Central Command's area of responsibility and met with deployed Airmen to gather information about important deployment issues.

Chief Master Sgt. Steve Sullens, accompanied by the command chief of U.S. Air Forces Central, Chief Scott Dearduff, talked with Airmen at five major operating locations, several forward operating bases and multiple detachments working outside of U.S. controlled areas throughout Southwest Asia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He met with Airmen serving inside and outside the wire in both traditional and nontraditional roles. The chief also met with Airmen filling Air Force and joint taskings and those filling joint source solution requirements under Army tactical control.

Discussions focused on the importance of every duty, irrespective of proximity to the enemy with particular emphasis on deployment preparation, including ways to streamline the processes which train and equip battlefield Airmen.

"We still have room for improvement. Specifically, we heard from many Airmen whose preparation fell short in one or more of the organizing, training and equipping areas," Chief Sullens said. "We plan to go back and preach the 'deployment faith' to supporting leaders and then identify ways to improve the relevant processes. In the end, this will save Airmen time, while presenting better prepared and equipped airmen to supported commanders."

Despite short falls and multiple deployments - one Airman was on his 14th tour-- the spirit of our Airmen runs high he said.

"As we met with Airmen from distinctly different battlefields and mission sets, one constant always emerged: extraordinary Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are doing extraordinary things for our nation in this current fight," the Spokane, Wash., native said.

Chief Sullens is the principal advisor to the Air Combat Command commander and staff regarding the readiness, morale and welfare of over 80,000 enlisted airmen stationed at 25 wings, 15 bases and at more than 200 operating locations around the world.