Ohio Air National Guard
appoints Smith
as top enlisted Airman in state
Chief Master Sgt. Phillip D. Smith (right), new Ohio Air National Guard state command chief master sergeant, receives a plaque from Chief Master Sgt. Tamara R. Phillips, the outgoing state command chief master sergeant, on Jan. 11, 2014, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Smith, the new advocate for the Ohio Air National Guard enlisted force, replaces Phillips, who retired following her completion of a four-year assignment in early January. (Staff Sgt. Nicholas Pavlik, ONG) |
Columbus, Ohio 01/11/14 —The Ohio Air National Guard is pleased to announce the selection of Chief Master Sgt. Phillip D. Smith as Ohio’s new state command chief master sergeant. The new advocate for the Ohio Air National Guard enlisted force replaces Chief Master Sgt. Tamara R. Phillips, outgoing state command chief master sergeant, who retired following her completion of a four-year assignment in early January.
Smith, the Ohio Air National Guard’s top enlisted senior noncommissioned officer, brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He began his military career as a member of the 555th Air Force Band, and has served more than 20 years overall in the Air National Guard.
A native of Perrysburg, Ohio, Smith graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1977. He acquired a bachelor’s of music education from Bowling Green State University before earning his master’s in education from Ashland University in 1992.
Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard as part of the 555th Air Force Band, located at the 180th Fighter Wing, near Toledo, Ohio, and continued to serve in the band until February 2012. While assigned, Smith served as unit training manager, unit deployment manager, unit resource advisor and band superintendent. On a national level, Smith was selected and served on a Tiger Team in 2011 that revised Air Force Instruction 35-110, United States Air Force Band Program. In February 2012, he became the 180th Fighter Wing’s human resource advisor (HRA). As the wing’s HRA, he advised and assisted Air National Guard senior leadership on strategic initiatives that directly affect organizational culture as well as the development and effective utilization of all Airmen in the Air National Guard. In August 2013, Smith served as an instructor at the HRA Orientation Course at the National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md. He served in the position of the Ohio Lead HRA and was a participating member of the Joint Inclusion and Diversity Executive Council, and a member facilitator of the Educate Group Subcommittee. While HRA, Smith served as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Contamination Control Area.
Smith recently retired from Perrysburg Junior High School, where he was the orchestra teacher. Professional awards include the 1994 Perrysburg Education Association Teacher of the Year and the 2003 Perrysburg Schools Foundation Junior High Teacher of the Year.
When asked about his vision as the new state command chief master sergeant, Smith says that he hopes to implement the three aim points established by Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling, the command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard.
“I will focus on renewing our commitment to the profession of arms, the health of the force, along with recognizing and embracing our achievements,” Smith says. “We will work together to develop our Airmen by offering the appropriate training at the proper time in their career. We will target leadership experiences and opportunities for Airmen at all levels to allow them to grow through the application of their skills. Our Airmen are our most valuable resource. Taking care of them will ensure a relevant and ready force to serve our nation, state and communities well into the future.” |
