Command chief on board, ready to serve

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Continuing in the footsteps of his father's 30-year U.S. Air Force career, Chief Master Sgt. Rory Wicks, 56th Fighter Wing command chief, begins his journey at Luke Air Force Base as the top enlisted member.

The chief arrived here in September from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, where he served as the 100th Security Forces Squadron manager.

"Airmen are my life," he said. "What I bring to the 56th FW is the mentality of a defender of the force, as well as an Airman."

Chief Wicks watched his dad travel from base to base around the country, growing up as an Air Force family member.

"I'm a second generation Air Force professional," said Chief Wicks. "My dad is a 30-year retired chief. So, I grew up in the Air Force."

Chief Wicks joined when he was 19-years-old. The first 18 years of his life, he was a military brat.

His decision to join the military came during his second year in college. Chief Wicks father supported his son's wish to enlist, but didn't want him to enter the security forces career field. His dad wanted him to be a civil engineer, just like him.

"My father was a dirt boy like Chief Master Sgt. of the AF James Roy," Chief Wicks said. "He didn't want me to be a defender, and he tried to get me to change careers, even while I was in Basic Military Training."

Despite the difference of opinion on career choice, the first person Chief Wicks called when he got the 56th FW command chief job was his father.

"It's always awesome to have him in my corner," he said of his father, who has given Chief Wicks advice throughout his career. "My dad lets me know if I'm veering too far left or right. He keeps me straight."

Chief Wicks joined the Air Force in June 1984 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and has held a variety of security forces key management and leadership positions at the squadron, major command and Air Staff levels. His resume even includes a job at the Air Force Inspection Agency as the Compliance Inspections and Nuclear Oversight Division chief.

"I've been blessed with some mentorship and leadership that has allowed me to grow," Chief Wicks said. "I've had an opportunity to lead at different levels, and it has always been about the Airmen."

He gives credit to a number of supervisors who have taken him by the hand. One supervisor, in particular, had considerable impact.

"Although many won't know his name today," Chief Wicks said. "Buck Sgt. Michael McGuire got me started the right way."

Until the mid 1990s, Airmen spent a year as a senior airman, then transitioned to the rank of sergeant, commonly called a "buck" sergeant.

The command chief took those first experiences and developed an understanding of what makes a good NCO.

"Integrity is a very important part of a person's character for me," Chief Wicks said. "At every level of leadership, we should try to make the Air Force better than it was when we found it."

Supervisors at all levels must ensure young Airmen know and understand how they fit in while developing them into leaders, according to the command chief.

He believes officers, enlisted and civilians are part of the same team. It's these team contributions that make the Air Force successful at what it does for our nation, the chief said.

"I like positive people," Chief Wicks said. "I feed off their energy. There are a lot of great folks I've already met at Luke, so many people who are excited about our Air Force."

He's spreading that upbeat attitude across a command of 5,000 enlisted personnel and 24 squadrons.

"Thanks for the welcome," Chief Wicks said. "I look forward to working with everyone here at Team Luke. I am a team player, and I am here to serve."