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Travis Chief selected for top Reserve enlisted job

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 349TH AIR MOBILITY WING
TRAVIS AFB, Calif. --  Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen R. Buckner, the 349th Air Mobility Wing command chief master sergeant, was selected for the Air Force Reserve Command's top enlisted position. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Jr., chief of the Air Force Reserve and AFRC commander, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., made the selection Dec. 23.

Chief Buckner will advise General Stenner on readiness, training, utilization, morale, professional development and quality of life for all enlisted members in the Air Force Reserve. She will also be the functional manager for all Reserve first sergeants, the senior noncommissioned officers responsible for the morale, welfare and conduct of enlisted members at the squadron level throughout the command.

"Chief Buckner has done all the right things to achieve this goal," said Col. Jay Flournoy, 349th AMW commander. "She is a strong voice for the entire enlisted force, and is not afraid to speak her mind in their best interests."

Chief Buckner has been the Command Chief for the Travis Reserve wing since May of 2009. A native of Gary, Indiana, she enlisted in the Air Force in 1987. While on active duty, she served at various levels in the operations resource management field and was an Airman Leadership School instructor. Her assignments included postings in California, Utah, Spain and the Netherlands.

Since leaving active duty in 1997, she has served as both a traditional Reservist and a full-time Air Reserve Technician. In 2007 she deployed to Southwest Asia in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Although this will be a huge loss for the wing, it is an enormous gain for the command," Colonel Flournoy said. "She will be sorely missed, but we're excited for her."