Chief Master Sgt (Ret) Jeffrey J. Trottier served as the Command Chief of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base Scotia, New York. Stratton is home to the ski-equipped LC-130H cargo plane whose primary mission is to support National Science Foundation directed operations in the Arctic and Antarctica polar regions. As the 11th Senior Enlisted Advisor/Command Chief, he served as the advisor to the commander and senior leaders on matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, quality of life, professional development and effective utilization of more than 900 enlisted personnel assigned to the Airlift Wing. Chief Trottier enlisted in the active duty Air Force in 1980 and retired in October of 2023. 

Originally from Bellevue, Nebraska, MSgt Faith Donavon has served in the USAF for over 18 years in Services career field.  She has worked as a DFAC Manager, Fitness Center NCOIC, Mortuary Affairs Dress and Restoration Section Lead, as well as a General's Enlisted Aide and Unit Deployment Manager.  Her functional expertise is why she now works as the Commander's Action Group Superintendent for the Headquarters Air Force Services Center at JBSA-Lackland Kelly, Texas, managing strategic communications along 27 operational lines of effort in support of a $3.5 billion enterprise.  Aside from earning her most recent selection as the 2024 Air Force Services Center Senior Enlisted Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award winner, her proudest accomplishment is being a mom to her two sons: Nathan and Anthone.  

MSgt Pete Ruiz, who is an Academy Military Trainer at the Air Force Academy and who has served as an Exec for several Command Chiefs, shares his thoughts on Acknowledging Presence, You Don't Know Everything, and Network lessons in the book.

SMSgt (First Sergeant/Retired) Nicole Brown shares her thoughts and perspectives on how effective Chiefs realize that they "don't know everything" (lesson # 2), based on her experience. 

CMSgt Sharla Kostielney is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. She is the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning the readiness, training, morale, health, welfare, effective utilization, and discipline for nearly 4,000 military. Malmstrom Airmen support the nation’s nuclear surety objectives by operating, maintaining, and securing 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities. The wing operates and maintains 15 missile alert facilities located in a 13,800 square-mile complex.

CMSgt Kostielney entered the Air Force in August 1997.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. She serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of more than 600,000 Total Force Airmen. Chief Bass is the 19th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position.

Chief Bass was raised as an Army dependent, living in several overseas and stateside locations, prior to entering the Air Force in 1993.

Chief Master Sergeant Philip B. McAlpin Jr., is the Senior Enlisted
Leader for the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, Royal Air Force
Mildenhall, United Kingdom. Chief McAlpin serves as the
commander’s principle advisor on all enlisted matters in
professional development, manpower, training, and readiness. He
is entrusted with ensuring 320 highly trained Total Force Engineers
and 44 mobility teams are prepared to execute the 100th Air
Refueling Wing’s "Anytime, Anywhere" combat support and
contingency operations missions throughout the European and
African area of responsibility. His Team’s personnel spans 27 Air
Force specialties enabling the maintenance and sustainment of
$2.8 Billion dollars in base infrastructure. Lastly, he provides sound
leadership to the Wing’s critical Fire Protection and Emergency
Services, Emergency Management, and Environmental Protection
capabilities safeguarding 16,000 military and civilian personnel.

Chief McAlpin was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and
enlisted in the Air Force in 2001.

Chief Master Sergeant James Pope is the acting Command
Chief of the 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air
Facility Washington, Maryland. In this role, he advises the
commander on all enlisted matters and on issues regarding
the welfare, readiness, utilization, morale, and quality of life for
personnel across five wings, three headquarters, and over 80
tenant organizations, as well as 60,000 military and civilian
Airmen, and families in the National Capital Region and
around the world. The 316th Wing supports contingency
operations in our nation’s capital with immediate response
rotary wing assets. It also provides security for the world’s
highest visibility flight line and is responsible for operations of
the Air Force Memorial and the Air Force Chaplaincy.

Chief Pope was raised as an Air Force dependent, living in
several stateside and overseas locations, prior to entering the
Air Force in 1995.

 Chief Master Sergeant Carlos Sanchez is assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as the Chief Enlisted Manager of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight. He leads 54 military and civilian Airmen in support of the Air Force’s largest fighter wing mission, consisting of F-16 and F-35 aircraft operating on the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Military Training Range. He manages EOD operations to locate, identify, disarm, neutralize, recover, and dispose of incendiary, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazards posing threats to the base and civilian populace throughout the state of Arizona. Additionally, he provides highly trained EOD teams to supplement United States Secret Service and Department of State personnel charged with protecting the President, Vice President, and other foreign dignitaries. 

Chief Sanchez was born and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut and entered the Air Force in August 2002.