DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. Peter Webb is hitting the ground running as the new command chief for the 919th Special Operations Wing.
Webb participated in his first Unit Training Assembly April 5-6, 2019 in his new position as the senior enlisted member of the Air Force Reserve’s only special operations wing.
“Chief Webb is uniquely qualified for the task and is the right leader to help our Citizen Air Commandos and mission partners develop and be fully successful,” said Col. Les Bradfield, 919th SOW commander.
Webb comes to the 919th SOW from 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas, where he was the fire chief and program manager. A career firefighter and paramedic, he also has extensive local government and management experience.
“Duke Field is where I became an Airman,” said Webb. “It's good to see the familiar faces and the new faces. It takes a village to raise a child, and this is true of developing Airmen, too. We don't develop by ourselves, it takes interactions with others, learning how to do our job at all levels, trying new things, and leaving the nest to understand the broader picture.”
Originally enlisting in the Army, Webb made the jump to the Air Force Reserve in 1998. His first Reserve assignment was as a member of the 919th Civil Engineer Squadron, where he served until 2017.
Relying on his wide range of experience, including managing civilian fire deployments, deploying on several occasions, working at the Numbered Air Force level, and being stationed at Duke Field previously, Webb hopes to bring his own special touch to the 919th SOW.
“In the Army, I learned a simple phrase: Be, Know, Do,” said Webb. “It has been the foundation of all my leadership education and training over the last 28 years.”
That motto is clear in Webb’s top three priorities for the 919th SOW: pushing Airmen at all levels to pursue professional development; supporting and leading with RCA—Readiness Communications, and Accountability—and having fun.
“The work can be tough, and our expectations are high. Balance is critical in our lives as reservists. But there is no instruction or regulation that says we cannot have fun while we are here. We must be professional, and we have to get stuff done (readiness), but have fun at it. Grin and bear it!”
As the senior enlisted advisor to the commander, Webb will have plenty of opportunities to shape the future of the 919th SOW. He also looks forward to interacting with the wing’s Quiet Professionals, and being a champion and mentor for its Airmen.