JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 315th Airlift Wing marked a historic milestone on May 4, 2025, as it held its first-ever Command Chief Assumption of Responsibility ceremony, officially welcoming Chief Master Sgt. Chima O. Ellis as the new command chief master sergeant at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.
“This is more than a ceremony—it’s a reaffirmation of our commitment to the mission and the people who execute it,” said Ellis. “I’m honored to serve and to help carry forward the 315th’s proud tradition of excellence. Together, we’ll ensure our Airmen are ready—always.”
As the wing’s senior enlisted leader, Chief Ellis will serve as the principal advisor to the wing commander on all matters affecting the readiness, morale, welfare, professional development, and effective utilization of the wing’s enlisted Reserve force. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring the 315th remains agile and ready to support global mobility operations.
“Chief Ellis is the right leader at the right time to help us continue the incredible legacy of the 315th Airlift Wing,” said Col. Adam Lanier, commander of the 315th Airlift Wing. “He brings with him a wealth of operational experience, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of what it means to serve in the Reserve.”
“In his civilian life, Chief Ellis lives in Florida with his family and works in the defense and aerospace industry—he knows firsthand the balance our Reserve Citizen Airmen must maintain between family, civilian careers, and military service,” Lanier added.
Chief Ellis began his Air Force career in 1997, completing Korean language training followed by graduation from the Cryptologic Linguist Apprentice Course at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in January 1999. He served as a Korean Cryptologic Linguist and Radio Telephone Controller at Osan Air Base, South Korea, from February 1999 to April 2000.
Before assuming his current role, Chief Ellis served as the individual mobilization augmentee to the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
The ceremony was attended by Airmen, family members, and senior leaders who gathered to celebrate this symbolic transfer of responsibility. It underscored the critical role of the command chief in upholding the wing’s standards of discipline, mission readiness, and enlisted force development.
This inaugural ceremony served not only as a formal introduction for Chief Ellis but also as a renewed call to action for the wing to continue its mission to “generate and provide combat forces… Ready Now!”