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From Cop to Command Chief: Grand Forks top enlisted man retires after 30 years

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N .D. --  The Warriors of the North gathered Thursday to celebrate the career of Chief Master Sergeant David Carlson as he retired after 30 years of proud and dedicated service to the Air Force.

Col. Tim Bush, former commander of the 319th Air Base Wing, presided over the ceremony for Carlson, who had served as the wing's command chief since April 2010.

Bush asked the hundreds of attendees for audience participation; saying he was going to read out a list of words. If the audience thought that the word applied to Carlson, they were to shout, "Chief."

"Tough, tenacious, truthful, fair," all received the booming response of, "Chief."

"Vegan," however, received nothing but laughs since Carlson is an avid outdoorsman who relishes his hunting and fishing.

Bush also helped illustrate Carlson's years of service, asking everyone who had joined the Air Force after 1983 to stand up; nearly every person packed into the hangar stood.
"These are the Airmen that you've mentored, lead and developed," in the last 30 years, Bush said.

"He's not an E-9, he's not a chief master sergeant, he's a chief," Bush said. "He wasn't just my chief, he was my friend and when we would shut the door, he would tell me like it was."

Carlson thanked Bush, calling him the "most influential leader of my career."

"You have the respect of the enlisted corps," Carlson told Bush.

Carlson thanked his family and friends who had traveled to North Dakota to attend the ceremony. He also thanked his wife, Laurie, his "best friend and certainly the best fishing partner" he's ever had.

"Laurie, I would not be standing here today if it were not for you," he said. "Thank you for what you've given this great Air Force team and thank you for putting up with me for well over 30 years."

He also thanked the Airmen, telling them that there was no place on Earth he would rather spend his last day in the service than with the Warriors of the North. He told them that everyone experiences defining moments that "shape us and make us who we are," and shared some of the defining moments he had experienced in the last 30 years.

· "It was 1983, my first guard mount. I remember my first supervisor, Buck Sgt. Whalen. He was a hell of a good supervisor. He was tough like the rest in my unit, but he was fair and willing to teach me to be a cop. Sergeant Whalen taught me to have focus and direction."

· "I remember patrolling the ramp one night at Ellsworth with Sgt. Mike Gough. A B-1 crashed in front of our truck. Security Control reported the crew ejected. Our teams responded as trained and recovered all four crew members ... and I recall the incredible team of medics as they performed their duties and gave back the gift of life. This moment drove home the importance of training."

·  "I remember going into a Zale's in 1985 to buy Laurie an engagement ring. This was gonna be a great day. There was just one hitch ... the clerk informed me that an Airman didn't make enough to buy the ring. So I met up with Laurie later that day and asked her to marry me, then asked her to co-sign for the ring. Not sure how a broke college student would help this situation, but we went back to the store in force and by God, they gave us the ring. Probably not the greatest setting for a marriage proposal, but one we'll never forget. This moment taught me the importance of thinking through a plan before execution."

·  "I remember a day at Lackland sitting in the crowd with Chief Mike Edwards watching 750 Basic Trainees at their coining ceremony. Ray Charles was singing "America the Beautiful," on the speakers. Each TI marched their flight to the parade ground, and once formed, they shook the hand of each trainee, passed a coin, and called them 'Airman' for the very first time. This moment taught us the significance of our responsibilities. We have the Air Force's next generation in our hands."

·  "I remember standing outside of a church at Elmendorf listening to the chaplain on the loudspeakers. There were so many people at the service that we all couldn't fit. The team mourned the loss of one of our vehicle operators killed by an IED ... he was laid to rest that day. This taught us the reality of giving life for country."

·  "I remember Airman Jim Shaner and me getting into our bunkers in front of our aircraft one night on the Alert Pad at Incirlik. Security Control reported enemy activity on the north side of the runway. As an explosion went off in the distance, I remember digging my M-16 handgrips into the sandbags to get as low as possible and hoping this pain-in-the-ass helmet would actually deflect a bullet if one flew my way. This moment taught me to trust instincts and to believe in my teammates as they believe in you."

·  "On another day, I remember smelling the fumes of a jet as the pilot taxied out of the fighter area for a final training sortie. I saluted as he rolled past and he saluted back. The next morning he and his team took a short flight across the Mediterranean and bombed Libyan terrorists. This taught me how powerful this team is ... anytime, anywhere."

Carlson concluded his speech by saying that his tour at Grand Forks "has taught us that no one does it better than the Warriors of the North, and it taught us to be proud."

He said he and Laurie were grateful to have been able to serve with the team, and "I am damn sure proud to have been called an American Airman."

"May your defining moments be as inspirational as ours," he said. "And may your noble service keep this country free."