“The Mighty Eighth” bids farewell to its command chief

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Erick M. Reynolds
  • 8th Air Force Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  After a career that has spanned four decades, the command chief for the Eighth Air Force is spreading his wings and soaring to new horizons. 

After graduating in 1978 from Chaffey Union High School in Ontario, Calif., now Chief Master Sgt. Todd A. Kabalan, 8th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) command chief, joined the Air Force to serve at 15 different assignments including two remote tours to Korea and a 365 day deployment to the Horn of Africa. 

Some of the professional highlights from Chief Kabalan's career include being an Honor Graduate at Air Base Ground Defense, Security Police Academy, receiving the John L. Levitow Award for his Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School class, a Distinguished Graduate from the Senior NCO Academy and graduating Cum Laude from Troy State University. 

While reflecting over his 31 years of service, with a chuckle, Chief Kabalan explains that his favorite rank was a staff sergeant. 

"It was a blast being a staff sergeant," said Chief Kabalan. "I had responsibility, and a chance to lead, but didn't have the paperwork to deal with as you advance in rank." 

He said that during the time he spent as a staff sergeant he had the opportunity to work on flight as a patrolman, assistant flight chief and was able to increase his leadership skills as an instructor at the security forces technical training school. 

Even though staff sergeant may have been Chief's favorite rank, he still finds himself humbled being the command chief for the "The Mighty Eighth." 

"Being here as the command chief was quite the opportunity," he said. "I have been exposed to a lot of diverse missions; with the 8th Air Force having one of the most diverse missions I have seen. The mission ranges from bombers to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to some other really neat aircraft missions, people and the places we operate from." 

The 8th Air Force is comprised of eight expeditionary wings, and is the Air Force component for U.S. Strategic Command, providing nuclear and computer network operations capability for the Air Force. The numbered Air Force also oversees the war-fighting capability and the operational readiness of "The Mighty Eighth's" B-2 Spirit and B-52 Strato-fortress bombers; along with the E-8C Joint STARS, EC-130H Compass Call, E-3B Sentry, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and U-2S Dragon Lady. 

One of the biggest challenges Chief Kabalan endured as the command chief for the 8th Air Force was re-invigorating the nuclear enterprise. Even with this challenge, the command chief was able to help keep Airmen focused on the tasks at hand and start the re-invigoration. 

"This allowed us to identify where we were lacking as an Air Force and helped put our NCO responsibilities into perspective," Chief Kabalan explained. "The factors leading up to the reinvigoration of the nuclear enterprise was just as good as much as it was bad, because it really helped us make some great changes to our Air Force and now we are easily way above where we were two years ago and even ten years ago." 

One of the other obstacles Chief Kabalan has had to overcome while holding the senior enlisted position in the numbered Air Force was manning. 

"We are trying to complete the mission with about 80 percent of the manpower required and then deploying 10 percent of that," explained Chief Kabalan. "We don't have enough people to do what we need to do and then we don't have time to train those that are left behind." 

While assigned as the command chief for "The Mighty Eighth," Chief Kabalan advised the commander on all matters concerning the operational utilization, assignment, morale, and welfare, of more than 35,000 enlisted personnel assigned to the war-fighting headquarters. 

With all of the changes and the shrinking of the Air Force, Chief Kabalan offered advice to help Airmen of all ranks that can help them become successful. 

"What I would pass to any Airman; simply be a great Airman, be a great NCO, be a great SNCO," said Chief Kabalan. "The most important thing I have learned is simply ... just be you. I would seek out a leader you see as successful, don't sell yourself short, don't sell yourself out and always ensure you can look at yourself in the mirror.