31st Fighter Wing welcomes new command chief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Team Aviano welcomed its newest command chief master sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Craver. The new command chief was selected by Brig. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., 31st Fighter Wing commander, from among a large pool of candidates earlier this month, to succeed Chief Master Sgt. Laten Williams upon his retirement.

"I'm humbled to be given this awesome opportunity to serve Team Aviano in another capacity," said Chief Craver. "I look forward to the chance to make Aviano an even better place for our military members and families."

Chief Craver has been stationed at Aviano since 2007 serving as the 603rd Air Control Squadron operations enlisted manager from 2007 to 2009 and 31st Operations Group superintendent from 2009 until his selection as command chief. As the base's top enlisted advisor, Chief Craver plans to continue his service on a larger scale but with the same principles.

"Sergeant means to serve," said Chief Craver. "I'm a chief master server. I'm here to work hard for all the people at Aviano Air Base. My experience as a supervisor growing up as a staff sergeant and [technical] sergeant have molded me into the kind of command chief I would like to be. I will perform my job of supporting Airmen by doing the best job I know how and by giving the proper guidance."

The Chief has more than 24 years of experience in the Air Force with assignments at bases in Germany, Korea, Japan, Canada, Idaho and Washington.

He said his experience is critical to his value as a command chief. Positive role models such as his parents and former supervisors have helped shape who he has become as a leader.

"I have had great supervisors who have given me the opportunity to lean forward and go above and beyond, but not too far forward that I fell flat on my face," Chief Craver said. "I expect the Airmen of Aviano to take advantage of every opportunity given to them to reach and live up to their full potential."