WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing welcomed its new command chief during an assumption of responsibility ceremony Aug. 4 at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center Auditorium.
Chief Master Sgt. Aaron Doss will serve as the unit’s third command chief, but the career Security Forces Airman will be the ISR wing’s first command chief who didn't come from an ISR career field. It brings a different perspective that will benefit the entire wing, said Col. Philip Warlick, 655th ISR Wing commander.
“As a career ISR professional surrounded by mostly career ISR Airmen, I look forward to a different perspective,” Warlick said. “As an organization that thinks for a living, I challenge everyone to surround themselves with people who don’t think like them to be able to tackle every challenge from multiple angles. Chief Doss has a breadth of experience at multiple levels, and he will be a great advocate for our enlisted force and all Night Owls.”
“I look forward to bringing a unique, outside perspective to the team, advancing the commander’s vision, lines of effort and priorities all while developing and taking care of our Airmen,” Doss said during his remarks at the ceremony. “What I’ve come to realize about the role of the command chief is that it’s more than just sitting in two- or three-hour meetings to discuss mission briefs, funding and POM [Program Objective Memorandum] efforts. It’s about representing you [Airmen], being the voice of the enlisted force to ensure you are represented at the table when very important decisions are made about how we operate, how we train and how the mission will be carried out.”
The command chief serves as the commander’s key enlisted advocate and advisor, charged with working with the wing’s senior enlisted leaders to ensure the enlisted force is ready, trained, resilient and have what they need to carry out the mission. Doss acknowledged the roll senior leaders have played throughout his career in shaping his leadership approach.
“I fully accept that charge and I will, in turn, charge every SEL in this wing to do the same,” Doss said. “As part of my leadership philosophy, serving you is my number one priority – 24/7, 365. My second focus on removing barriers and creating an inclusive environment where Airmen can thrive. As Reserve Citizen Airmen, we bring a very important strategic and operational capability to the fight and it’s my job to make sure the team fully understands the mission and is put into a position to effectively accomplish that mission alongside our Air and Space Force partners.”
Doss credits current and previous wing leadership with creating a culture of excellence and said he will strive to continue that work as the unit evolves to meet the challenges of Global Power Competition.
“I look forward to continuing to build upon the already great team of ISR professionals and doing everything in my power to ensure that we are ready now and transforming for the future,” Doss said. “Moving forward you will hear words and terms like Great Power Competition, Action Orders, TASKORD (tasking order) … they’re not just words and terms. They’re blatant signals to remind us of why we do what we do.”
Prior to this assignment, Doss served as SEL for the 94th Mission Support Group at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. He was born in Meridian, Miss., and raised in Atlanta, Ga., where he joined the Air Force in June 2004.
“I want to be crystal clear about one thing – this is not about Chief Doss,” he said. “I view it (this role) as an opportunity to give back what the Air Force has invested in me over the years. It’s an opportunity to develop and inspire Airmen to be the absolute best version of themselves, to serve this great nation with honor and dignity, whether in a full-time or traditional Reserve capacity. In the words of our new Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi, ‘Every day matters and we must make every day count.’”