UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Service members and civilians deployed to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing honored the command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Wayne Daubert, on the occasion of his retirement after 30 years of faithful service Tuesday.
"Chief, when we arrived here, the wing headquarters building only displayed the photographs of the previous eight wing commanders and you changed that," said Col. David Farrow, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, commander. "You now join that long blue line of former command chiefs that include retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy."
Chief Daubert joined the Air Force Sept. 2, 1983 and will officially retire Oct. 1, 2013 as the highest ranking enlisted aerial port airman in the Air Force.
During the ceremony, attended by more than 300 guest including members of the U.S. Marine Corps, the Canadian armed forces and the U.S. State Department, Daubert received his third Bronze Star. His previous Bronze Stars were received in Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2006.
"Marauders, this was truly the story book ending for my career," said Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Daubert. "I am so proud to be an airman and extremely thankful for all the opportunities the Air Force has given me. I've had the opportunity to serve our great country for 30 years."
Daubert reflected on his time in the service and left words of advice for the airman entrusted to serve our great nation after he retires.
"During this journey of 30 years, it isn't the awards, decorations, recognition, or rank that means the most to me," Daubert said. "It's the people and the relationships I've experienced along the way."
Daubert is returning home to Vienna, Ill., to join his wife, Mary, his son, Tylour and daughters, Taylour and Suhmer where he will try to make up for lost time with his family.
"I was gone far too often, focused on duty at the expense of family," Daubert said. "Perhaps there are some in the audience who can identify with those shortcomings. Well it's payback time, and I fully intend to do just that."