All in the family

Chief Master Sgt. Bill Dixon, 914th Civil Engineering Squadron chief of operations, stands at attention while getting his chief's stripes tacked on at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 1, 2019.

On hand to assist in the ceremony were his brother Master Sgt. Dan Dixon, 914 CES electrical systems supervisor and Chief Dixon's wife, Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Dixon, 107th CES, NY Air National Guard, chief of operations. Also participating in the ceremony were both Chief's daughters.

Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sgt. is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted person's career. Some Chief Master Sergeants manage the efforts of all enlisted personnel within their unit or major subsection while others run major staff functions at higher headquarters levels. All Chiefs are expected to serve as mentors for non-commissioned officers and junior enlisted members, and to serve as advisers to unit commanders and senior officers.

By federal regulations, only about one percent of the Air Force enlisted force may hold the rank of Chief Master Sgt.