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Chief retires after 37 years

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Only one percent of enlisted members in the Air Force achieves the rank of chief master sergeant, and it's often said when these leaders retire, one of the highest compliments is to think of them not by their pay grade of E-9, but by their position as chief.

Chief Master Sgt. David Sward, 434th Maintenance Squadron superintendent, retired here April 10 after a 37-year, Air Force career.

After joining the Air Force in 1973, Chief Sward graduated from basic military training and attended an aircraft fuel system maintenance technical training school at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.

Upon graduation, a then Airman Sward, was assigned to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Chief Sward was then stationed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., where he worked on AC-130 Gunships, MC-130 Combat Talons, O-2 Skymasters, OV-19 Broncos, CH-3 Sea Kings and UH-1N Iroquois until his release from active duty in 1978.

It was in that same year that Chief Sward was hired in the Air Force Reserve as an air reserve technician at Grissom Air Force Base, where he has served ever since maintaining KC-135 Stratotankers for both the 931st Air Refueling Group and 434th Air Refueling Wing.

Chief Sward has been mobilized or deployed on six separate occasions since 1990 starting with Operation Desert Shield. He has also supported Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

During his retirement ceremony, the chief thanked his wife Karen, his family and Grissom personnel for supporting him throughout his career. At the end of the ceremony, many of the 434th ARW in attendance stood and gave a standing ovation, not to an E-9, but to a chief.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer