Felton joins 14th Flying Training Wing Published June 16, 2014 By Senior Airman Stephanie Englar 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- On June 10, Chief Master Sergeant Rita F. Felton became the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. In this role, she advises the wing commander on the mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of 3,000 personnel, including more than 500 enlisted Airmen, engaged in producing US Air Force and allied nation pilots. "My goal as the 14th FTW Command Chief is to promote our mission of Produce Pilots, Advance Airman and Feed the Fight," said Felton. "The ultimate test is not just stating the mission but having correlating right action, which connects us all to a common purpose." Felton provides leadership and direction to the enlisted force and is the functional manager for the wing's group superintendents and first sergeants, enabling the wing's specialized undergraduate pilot training mission and the deliberate development of the wing's Airmen. "My personal expectation of Airman today is to simply do their best where they are and with what they have and then do it in such a way that they can proudly say 'this is my contribution' to the goal and to the mission," said Felton. Felton entered active duty in May 1987. Her background includes various duties in Operations Management, Project Management, Instructor Duty, and as a First Sergeant. Her previous assignments include bases in Germany, District of Columbia, Guam, Panama, Texas, Alaska and North Carolina. She has served overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to assuming her current position, she served as the Pacific Air Forces, First Sergeant, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. "I am both honored and humbled to be joining the Team Blaze Family," said Felton. "I am in the right place, with the right people; at the right time...the best is yet to come!" Felton concluded by saying that her impression of Columbus Air Force Base so far is that it is a small base with a big impact. "I want to thank you all for working hard at work worth doing," said Felton. "I know it is not always easy but it is worth it and I look forward to working with you all." ASSIGNMENTS: 1. May 1987 - July 1987, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX 2. July 1987 - August 1991, Production Control Specialist, 50 Civil Engineering Squadron, Hahn AFB, Germany 3. August 1991 - June 1995, Production Control Specialist and Prime Beef NCO, 11 Civil Engineering Squadron, Bolling AFB, District of Columbia 4. July 1995 - May 1997, Chief, Operation Management, 36 Civil Engineering Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam 5. August 1997 - May 1999, NCOIC Operation Management, 24 Civil Engineering Squadron, 6. Howard AFB, Panama 7. May 1999 - January 2004, Chief Facility Maintenance, Operations Management, 8. Information Warfare Center, Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, TX 9. February 2004 - August 2004, Acting First Sergeant, Cryptologic Systems Group, Lackland AFB, TX 10. September 2004 - May 2007, First Sergeant, Cryptologic Systems Group, Lackland AFB, TX May 2007 - June 2009, First Sergeant, 3 Civil Engineer Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK 11. January 2008 - July 2008, First Sergeant, 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Ali 12. AB, Iraq 13. June 2009 - September 2010, First Sergeant, 673 Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson AFB, AK 14. September 2010 - March 2011. First Sergeant, 3 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base 15. Elmendorf- Richardson, AK 16. April 2011 - April 2013, First Sergeant, 4 Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 17. May 2013 - May 2014, First Sergeant, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl-Harbor-Hickam, HI 18. Jun 2014 - Present, Command Chief, 14 Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, MS