Why Is the Subsequent High Enlisted Guardian’s Nickname ‘B-9’?

When information broke on Could 8 that Chief Grasp Sgt. John F. Bentivegna was chosen to turn into the subsequent Chief Grasp Sergeant of the Area Drive, it quickly turned clear that social media is aware of him by a unique identify.

“Congrats, Chief B9!” mentioned a number of commenters on the unofficial Area Drive subreddit and on Fb. 

A Area Forces spokesman advised Air & Area Forces Journal the B-9 nickname refers back to the 9 letters that comply with the “B” in Bentivegna, which is pronounced “bent-EE-vania.”

Bentivegna would be the second-ever CMSSF, the highest enlisted Guardian within the Area Drive. As such, he might be chargeable for advising Chief of Area Operations Gen. B. Likelihood Saltzman on the welfare and readiness of the Area Drive’s Guardians. Saltzman chosen Bentivegna out of 5 finalists as the brand new high enlisted Guardian on Could 5. The service has not but introduced when ‘Chief B-9’ will formally take over the job from the present CMSSF Roger A. Towberman.

A 29-year veteran, Bentivegna presently advises the Deputy CSO for Operations, Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt, and he’s additionally the Enlisted Area Techniques Operations Profession Discipline Supervisor. He was Command Chief at Area Operations Command in his prior position. Bentivegna joined the Air Drive in 1994 and served in each upkeep and house operations earlier than transferring to the Area Drive in September 2020.

“He’s been proper right here with us each step of the way in which,” Towberman mentioned in a press release about Bentivegna. “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 pleased with the way it’s all coming collectively. He’s precisely who we want proper now.” 

That’s excessive reward coming from Towberman, who made a splash for being the primary CMSSF and for striving to kind a retention-focused service that doesn’t give Guardians “a motive to give up.” He additionally appeared on late-night TV from Greenland, sang with the Air Drive’s Max Influence rock band, and spoke on to Guardians on the Area Drive’s unofficial Reddit web page.

“When your model is loopy, you may’t exit of bounds,” Towberman mentioned in his keynote handle on the 2022 Air, Area & Cyber Convention, shortly after main the viewers by means of a singalong of the Area Drive music.

Although it’s unclear but what Bentivegna’s model might be, Area Drive management believes he’s prepared for prime time.

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

In the long run, Chief “B-9” got here out on high.

“It’s overwhelming and extremely humbling to be supplied the chance to turn into the subsequent Chief Grasp Sergeant of the Area Drive,” Bentivegna mentioned in a press release. “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.”