Davis retires after more than 35 years of service

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joshua Horton
  • 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  After more than 35 years of service to the Kentucky Air National Guard, Chief Master Sgt. William K. Davis was officially retired in a ceremony here May 16.

As the component maintenance flight chief of the 123rd Maintenance Squadron, Davis was responsible for providing safe and reliable maintenance for the C-130 Hercules aircraft, ensuring the readiness of personnel and equipment to aid combat aircrew training and execute contingency plans worldwide, and for conducting training for maintenance personnel.

"I can't tell you how many personnel I've seen in and out of Chief Davis' office of all ranks and ages," Lt. Col. Ash Groves, commander of the 123rd Maintenance Squadron, said during Davis' retirement ceremony. "To me, that speaks volumes about the man and the level of respect and trust the people of this wing place in him. He has been an encourager, a sounding board, a financial advisor, a spiritual leader and a confidant to any and everyone who has sought him out."

Davis enlisted with the Kentucky Air National Guard in 1979 as an avionics sensor system specialist on RF-4C Phantoms. Upon completion of technical school, he worked military days and temporary assignments within the avionics section. In January 1984, he was hired as a full-time technician in the communication navigation shop.

With the conversion to the C-130, Davis retrained into the propulsion career field in 1988 and later became the non-commissioned officer in charge of the propulsion shop. He was selected to be the 123rd Airlift Wing's test measurement diagnostic equipment coordinator from 1996 until 2005. Davis became the NCOIC of avionics guidance and control in April 1996 and was then promoted to the avionics superintendent position. On June 7, 2008 he was promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant as the component maintenance flight chief.

Over the course of his career, Davis deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He was chosen to be the aircraft maintenance chief for the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, and was in charge of all C-130 aircraft maintenance and more than 100 personnel from three different units.

As an aircraft maintenance technician, he deployed to Germany in support of Provide Promise, Joint Endeavor and Joint Forge. Davis has also deployed to Puerto Rico four times in support of Coronet Oak, to Oman for Operation Southern Watch and to Panama in support of Volant Oak.

As a result of his guidance, the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Maintenance Group received the Air National Guard Outstanding Medium Aircraft maintenance Unit of the Year Award, Groves said.