Chief Master Sgt. Peter J. Pratt formally assumed the duties of command chief master sergeant of the 176th Wing during a Nov. 7, 2021 assumption of responsibility ceremony here.

During the ceremony, a first for the wing, Brig. Gen. Tony Stratton, 176th Wing commander, welcomed Pratt and expressed his confidence in his ability to lead in the role.

“Chief Pratt is the right person with the right skillset at the right time,” Stratton said. “He’s served in every possible status that you can serve so he can help to illuminate some of my blind spots. It will be a rare occasion that you will see me without Chief Pratt from this point forward.”

Pratt expressed thanks to his family, friends and mentors he met along the way to this moment in his career. He also gave some of his expectations for the 176th Wing.

“Over the next three years, we will continue to whittle away at bureaucratic processes,” Pratt said. “To overcome future challenges, we will continue to build a culture that values innovation, collaboration and accountability. We must move with a sense of urgency today to rise to the set of challenges tomorrow.”

Pratt succeeds Chief Master Sgt. Delmar Schaefers, who is retiring, and assumes responsibility of approximately 1150 enlisted personnel. He is the commander’s key enlisted advocate and advisor on operational effectiveness and readiness, training, health, morale, welfare, quality of life and equipping of enlisted Airmen.

The 176th Wing performs C- 17 Globemaster III, HH-60G Pave Hawk, HC-130J Combat King II, Guardian Angel, air defense, maintenance, medical and support missions.