Posten named KyANG 1st Sergeant of the Year

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Dale Greer
  • 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  Master Sgt. John C. “Chris” Posten of the 123rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2019 First Sergeant of the Year.

Posten, who previously served as a C-130 crew chief, is principal advisor to the squadron commander on all issues related to enlisted members. As such, he is instrumental in providing a mission-ready enlisted force, said Lt. Col. Chris Bishop, 123rd AMXS commander.

“Chris is a consummate professional in every way — steady, mature, caring and deliberate,” Bishop added. “He’s always there to mentor our troops and provide them with the tools to develop and grow personally and professionally.

“When Chris was offered the opportunity to serve as our first sergeant, he jumped on it. And I’m glad he did — he is a tremendous shirt.”

Over the past year, Posten served as first sergeant to more than 400 personnel while deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. As part of that mission, he engineered the bed-down for the theater’s largest swap-out of forces — two maintenance groups — in less than 12 hours with no loss of mission capability.

Back home, Posten was a key player in planning a multi-state aircraft maintenance training event and volunteers at Hosparus of Louisville to provide support to terminally ill patients and their families.

Posten will be honored at the Kentucky National Guard’s Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet, to be held Saturday in Louisville.