Former 552nd ACW chief returns to important role Published Oct. 6, 2011 By Ken LaFayette Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Over the course of the month, the 552nd Air Control Wing has transitioned a new leader into its ranks. Chief Master Sgt. Eddie Compton is the newest 552nd Air Control Wing command chief. The chief arrived here in August from Fort Meade, Md. where he served as the command chief for the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. With more than 27 years in the Air Force, Chief Compton brings a diverse background, a wealth of experience and a passion for Airmen, and is no stranger to the 552nd ACW and Tinker. He served as first sergeant for the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, 32nd Combat Communication Squadron, the 552nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, 552nd Component Maintenance Squadron, the 552nd Aircraft Maintenance, the 692nd Intelligence Group and 324th Intelligence Squadron before being selected as a command chief for the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing at Fort Meade. "Command chiefs have different personalities and different ways of attacking things," the chief acknowledged. "I'll be good at some things and not so good at others, but what I bring to the fight is me. I was a first sergeant for 11 years before I did this and grew up a different way in the Air Force before I did this." It's been a long, demanding journey with many stops, but despite all of the places he has been, Chief Compton said he cannot think of any place he would rather be than right here in America's Wing and Oklahoma, serving the men and women of the wing and reunited with his wife JoAnne. "This is actually my third tour at Tinker and the 552nd ACW, and after leaving the last time I had no concept of becoming the command chief for the 552nd ACW, but I'm excited to take on the responsibility of serving the entire wing," he said. "I am very honored to get this opportunity but also humbled by the trust and confidence that has been placed in me. I've been in this wing many times and to come back as command chief is the highlight of my career." Accepting his new role, Chief Compton has two priorities for the enlisted members of the wing, remain focused on your primary mission, and develop enlisted leaders for higher positions. He vows to take each head on. "There are a lot of distractions out there right now and sometimes it's easy to forget why we're here," he explained. "Leaders need to encourage our enlisted airmen to get their professional degrees and do the things they need to do to become even better leaders," Chief Compton has already scheduled enlisted calls for all wing units. "We are going to talk to every chief, senior master sergeant, NCO and Airman to get them to understand the expectations," he said. "You build leaders as Airmen to NCOs these days, not like in the old days waiting when you made Master Sergeant to start your professional requirements, and then we give them a chance to go out and be leaders and understand what is to grow in a group of people." Chief Compton has been impressed by the professionalism demonstrated by the Airmen of the 552nd ACW and reminds supervisors to think about the airmen they lead. "I never thought I'd be sitting in this position," he said. "I had a good mentor, a Vietnam veteran with three purple hearts who corrected me on numerous occasions, but he also defended me when he had to. From that point I dove into my job, the next thing you know someone was tapping me on the shoulder telling me I had been in 20 years. "It's an honor to be your command chief and represent you as the wing's senior enlisted leader," said Chief Compton.