Super Bowl champ surprises Airman with Chief selection

  • Published
  • By Christa D'Andrea
  • Profession of Arms Center of Excellence
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  Former Dallas Cowboys player and Air Force A-10 pilot, Chad Hennings, surprised Senior Master Sgt. Brian Rutlege with a special announcement at the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence Summit Dec. 7-8.

Just before Hennings’ presentation Rutlege, who is a life-long Cowboys fan, was asked to step to the front of the room.

“When he called me up, I was not sure what was going on,” the Career Assistance Advisor at the 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath said. “He told me to put his Super Bowl ring on and I did not know why he wanted me to do that.”

After donning the ring, Hennings announced Rutlege’s selection to Chief Master Sergeant.

“Line number 108,” Hennings said.

Rutlege described the moment as being “perfect.”

“The only thing that would have made that moment more special would have been to have my family there with me,” he added.

“We’re extremely proud of Brian and thrilled his team here at Lakenheath was able to help set up this surprise,” Col. David Eaglin, 48th FW vice commander said.

The new chief select is a member of the United States Air Forces Europe-Air Force Africa PACE integration team. He describes ‘professionalism’ as “what makes us special.”

“We do a job that only certain members of our society are qualified to do,” he said. “We must do that job in a professional manner. Unprofessionalism diminishes our brand and our country expects more from its service members.”

PACE is the newly minted directorate in Air Education and Training Command dedicated to forging professional Airmen who embody the core values of Integrity, Service and Excellence.

Nearly 60 Airmen from all the major commands joined stakeholders from Headquarters Air Force, Air University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air National Guard and Reserve for two days to pool resources and learn what each MAJCOM has to offer.