Bentivegna Named Subsequent Chief Grasp Sergeant of the Area Power

The Area Power’s subsequent prime enlisted Guardian shall be an area operator: Chief Grasp Sgt. John F. Bentivegna will succeed CMSSF Roger A. Towberman later this yr.

Chief of Area Operations Gen. B. Probability Saltzman chosen Bentivegna on Might 5, the service introduced.

Bentivegna is a 29-year veteran now advising the Deputy CSO for Operations Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt and can also be the Enlisted Area Methods Operations Profession Area Supervisor. He was Command Chief at Area Operations Command in his prior function. 

Skilled in each upkeep and house operations, Bentivegna joined the Air Power in 1994 and transferred into the Area Power in September 2020. Because the second-ever CMSSF, he shall be liable for advising Saltzman on the welfare and readiness of the Area Power’s Guardians. 

He’ll face a tall order in succeeding Towberman, whose energetic, affable, and compassionate type linked properly with Guardians—and the general public. He was prepared to strive virtually something, together with a late-night TV look from Greenland, singing with the Air Power’s Max Impression rock band, and to the Area Power’s unofficial Reddit web page.

In an announcement, Towberman praised Bentivegna’s choice. “He’s been proper right here with us each step of the best way,” Towberman mentioned. “He is aware of the place we’ve been and believes in the place we’re going. I couldn’t be happier for our Guardians or extra happy with the way it’s all coming collectively. He’s precisely who we’d like proper now.” 

Bentivegna was one among 5 finalists for the place, all of whom underwent a four-day analysis that “vetted their expertise and management capabilities” and included a private interview with Saltzman, in keeping with a Area Power launch. 

“I wanted somebody that will deliver a perspective on our future that was articulated in a different way from mine,” Saltzman mentioned within the launch. “Somebody who may (and would) problem my assumptions and be certain that vital points had been evaluated from a number of angles and would catch issues I missed. All of the candidates had large expertise, expertise, and experience and it made it a detailed run.” 

“It’s overwhelming and extremely humbling to be provided the chance to grow to be the following Chief Grasp Sergeant of the Area Power,” Bentivegna mentioned in an announcement. “I’m actually excited to have that chance to work subsequent to Gen. Saltzman to assist fulfill his imaginative and prescient for the place the service must go.” 

A Area Power spokeswoman instructed Air & Area Forces Journal there isn’t a established date but for Bentivegna to formally take the reins from Towberman, who will retire later this yr. 

When Bentivegna does take over, although, he’ll tackle a spread of duties and fill huge footwear. Towberman, who was simply the second Guardian within the power, helped the Area Power take new approaches to conventional army personnel buildings and processes, noting how its small dimension made it perfect for experimentation. 

Amongst these new approaches is a radically totally different bodily health program outlined by “holistic well being” and health trackers for steady monitoring, as a substitute of annual exams. The service can also be hoping to maneuver away from exams and towards promotion boards for each rank above E-4. The plan can also be to determine a completely new “Area Element” that mixes part-time and full-time Guardians as a substitute of the standard Energetic-Responsibility/Reserve mannequin.