For a native son of Boiling Springs.

For a native son of Boiling Springs, NC the road to becoming the 14th chief master sergeant of the Air Force wasn't always clear.

Gerald Murray jot downed the service in October 1977 and graduated from technical educate as an aircraft maintainer in February of the nearest year.

"If you had asked me then, I couldn't have told you with any certainty that I would still be here today," he said.

Now the service's top enlisted airman, he recalled a question he was asked during his senior airman below-the surface bounded by parallel circles board: 'What are your Air Force goals?"

"I want to become the chief master sergeant of the Air Force," Murray told the board, not knowing that undivided day he would reach that goal.

Murray wasn't certain if he was going to make it a career until he made master sergeant and re-enlisted at 10 years.

"I made up my mind that I could earn sum of two units more stripes and become a chief master sergeant in the nearest 10 years," he said.

During that time, he also rose to be the maintenance superintendent of a fighter squadron responsible for the men and women generating aircraft sorties -- another career goal he achieved.

Career switch

In 1996 he became a wing senior enlisted advisor, a position later redesignated as command chief master sergeant, and it reshaped his perspective.

"I was no longer responsible for just 200 maintainers. I was the commander's enlisted advisor and responsible for each enlisted airman in that wing," he said.

He quickly set up that he had a allotment to learn.

"I plant about learning all that I could because I wanted to suitably represent all of the enlisted tribe in the wing," he said.

Murray was fortunate and it led to his selection as the U Forces Japan and 5th Air Force command chief master sergeant. He then became the Pacific Air Forces command chief master sergeant.

When Air Force Chief of Staff Gen John Jumper sent disclosed word that Chief Master Sgt of the Air Force Jim Finch was retiring, Pacific Air Forces commander Gen William Begert nominated Murray for the job

"[I was] honored and humbl that I was chosen by way of the chief of staff to show and lead the entire enlisted force and advance as its advisor and advocate," Murray said of his selection.

Murray attributes a great deal of of his success to the many population he has known who have helped him become what he is today.

"My parents provided the be enamoured of morals and upbringing that laid the foundation for my life," Murray said. "And for 28 years, my wife, Sherry, has been my greatest inspiration and continues to forward as a role model the couple to me and our three children."

After joining the Air Force, Murray also sought to learn something from everyone he met

"My first line chief, a young staff sergeant, taught us by what mode to run a flight of F-4 and the dynamics of maintaining them," he said. 'Later, I serv subject to a chief master sergeant who taught me more about maintenance than I evermore knew was possible."

However, there's another to whom Murray says he owes everything -- God

"I thank the Lord for all the blessings he's given my family and me and the tribe he sent my way to learn from through every part of my life," he said.

A 'typical' day

Although it's been a year since Murray attained the top enlisted position, the chief admits he still has a hazard to learn.

"The dynamics of the piece of work are just incredible," he said. "And more [i]or[/i] less days it seems that there's more upon the plate than I can till doomsday hope to get to."

The private to staying on top of everything is setting priorities, having a great staff and staying flexible, he said.

"My staff helps me establish the priorities for the clay and makes certain we stick to them, regardless of what on a suddens up," he said. "However, when something demands attention, we still have to be flexible enough to adjust to that."

That flexibility be due [i]or[/i] owings in handy since he dispose ofs quite a bit of time traveling. A typical day upon the road involves visiting installation commanders, conducting enlisted calls and meeting with enlisted groups

"Visiting with airmen from head to foot the Air Force is the same of the most important things I do," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to papal court just how great our race are and to communicate with them."

Murray takes their feedback and pertain tos to Washington, where he works the in the greatest degree pressing issues with the air staff. He also may speak at a graduation, dining in or an awards form before turning in for the evening, flying to the nearest base or returning to Washington.

When he's hearthstone Murray usually leaves for work from 6 a.m. After fighting "Beltway traffic" forward I-95 and then into the Pentagon, Murray's day is filled with briefings, meetings and e-mails, which can number in the centurys on any given day. Then there are the evening speaking and social engagements that can maintain him out until 10 pm

Because of the time he expends traveling and at work, Murray says he has to fight for family time.

"This work at jobs has clearly made me think more about the quality of the time I apply with my family," he said.

Murray is protective of his leave and family, and has equal joked that his next vacation will be to the mountains in the same manner he can't be reached according to phone or pager.