Tyndall renames road to honor Chief Airey

by Senior Airman Christopher Reel
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Tyndall officials renamed Tyndall's main road, Illinois Avenue, to Airey Avenue, in honor of the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force and Bay County resident, Paul Wesley Airey, during a ceremony July 22 at the Heritage Club.

He was the first chief master sergeant appointed to this ultimate noncommissioned officer position and was selected from among 21 major air command nominees to become the first chief master sergeant of the Air Force.

"On behalf of the Airey family, we thank all of you so much for paying tribute to Dad," said Retired Chief Master Sgt. Dale Airey, Paul Airey's son. "My dad spent 70 years trying to bring credit among the enlisted force. The enlisted force is where his heart was. By paying tribute to Dad, you are paying tribute to all enlisted men and women of the Air Force. When I think of Dad and the enlisted corps, I think of his words on the nation's Air Force Memorial."

Airey's words are engraved on the wall, saying: "When I think of the Enlisted Force, I see Dedication, Determination, Loyalty and Valor."

"We are honored to pay tribute to this man and his legacy," said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Lantagne, 325th Fighter Wing command chief. "Tyndall's main thoroughfare will be named for one of the greatest Airman our Air Force has ever known."

Before Airey became chief master sergeant of the Air Force, he was assigned to the Air Defense Command's 4756th Civil Engineering Squadron here, where he was the unit's first sergeant. Airey is the only CMSAF to return to active duty upon finishing his term. He returned to Tyndall to finish his last year of service as the 4756th CES first sergeant.

Airey spent much of his 27-year career as a first sergeant. During World War II, however, he served as an aerial gunner on B-24 bombers and is credited with 28 combat missions in Europe, according to Airey's biography. After he was forced to bail out of the flak-damaged aircraft, he was captured and became a prisoner of war in Germany from July 1944 to May 1945.

During his time as the CMSAF, he led a team of Air Force specialists and created the Weighted Airman Promotion System, which is still in effect today, a success listed in Airey's official biography. Airey also pushed for the induction of the NCO academy to further enhance the professional development and management skills of enlisted personnel.

"Since Tyndall's NCO Academy already bears Chief Airey's name, we had to seek General Welsh's (Gen. Mark A. Welsh III is Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force) approval to have more than one structure or road named after him," said Chief Master Sgt. Raymond DeVite, prior 325th FW command chief and current Air Force Research Laboratory command chief, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "The entire process took more than a year, but with the tenacity of Col. David E. Graff (325th FW commander) and Major Chad Lichty (325th FW director of staff) we were able to receive a favorable endorsement from Gen. Welsh."

After he completed his tenure as CMSAF, Airey returned to Tyndall and regained his position as first sergeant for his final year in the Air Force. He retired on Aug 1, 1970.

"Tyndall was Chief Airey's base. He was a staple of Panama City and Tyndall long after he retired," DeVite said. "Colonel Graff felt as though it was important that everyone that enters Tyndall is aware of that."

Even after retirement and his career as an Airman was completed, Airey still had a determination to serve his Air Force and continue supporting the Enlisted Force.

Airey took up the position as a regional director of the Air Force Sergeant Association and was an honored speaker and panelist. "Love your Air Force. Always do the very best job you can," was Airey's consistent message.

"It is paramount that we honor our enlisted heritage," said DeVite. "The enlisted corps is how it is today because of men like Chief Airey."

Airey died March 11, 2009 in Panama City, Fla., at age 85.