Aircraft maintainer lands new role as command chief

  • Published
  • By Airman Malcolm Mayfield
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  An integral part of any base is its enlisted force, and F.E. Warren's command chief looks forward to helping Airmen be the best they can be and share some of his journey that lead to the position he's in now.

Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Couch, 90th Missile Wing command chief, said he believes giving Airmen clear direction, providing feedback and giving credit where it's due is important for Airmen to grow.

"I think the most important thing is to make sure our Airmen are personally and professionally ready to meet our mission," the first time command chief said. "We do this by giving them all the tools they need and making sure they have the right leadership and training so they are prepared to do the mission."

Couch has immersed himself in F.E. Warren's mission, which is different from his last duty station at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Couch and his family now consider Cheyenne, Wyo., home and look forward to seeing what it has to offer.

"We enjoyed Hurlburt Field," Couch said. "Being close to the beach, the boys had a good time. It's a big change, but we're excited about it and about exploring Wyoming. It's a beautiful base with a lot of history."

Being in Cheyenne is unfamiliar for Couch, but being around the military isn't, he said.

Couch comes from a rural farming town in Louisiana, where his father served in the Army National Guard. Seeing his father wearing his uniform every morning inspired Couch to join the military.

Now Couch wears a uniform of his own and with that comes a responsibility he doesn't take lightly. One of the ways he does this is by continuing to improve. Developing himself through schooling is just a single part of his self-improvement.

"Over the last few years, I've been pursuing my education. I've finished my bachelor's degree and I'm working toward my master's degree," Couch said. "Between work, school and spending time with my family, that pretty much consumes me."

Couch currently holds a Bachelor of Science for Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is an aircraft maintainer by trade.

Within that career field Couch has deployed a number of times and said the pinnacle of his career was a deployment to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"Leading my Airmen in a deployed environment, helping them perform the mission and seeing their excitement and dedication, was a great opportunity," he said.

Couch's role as command chief is another great opportunity and a chance to help Airmen achieve their goals as well as help mentor the great Airmen performing and contributing to the nuclear enterprise mission, he said.

"As I've been going around the base and meeting with the different groups and different Airmen, it's refreshing," Couch said. "They're really excited about the mission."

He's also excited about being a part of the ICBM mission. After spending the majority of his career as an aircraft maintainer working on F-15s, as well as some time on A-10s, C-130s and CV-22s, Couch has been led down a new path.

"I have primarily been stationed at fighter wings, so for me the biggest challenge is learning the mission and the culture of the nuclear enterprise," Couch said. "I really enjoy getting out and visiting with Airmen and the different organizations. Spending most of my time in maintenance, this is an opportunity for me to get out and see different things on base and see the different jobs our Airmen do."

Being thrown in an unfamiliar environment can be a difficult change, however F.E. Warren's new command chief says he accepts change and looks forward to another journey.