Academy to welcome new command chief Published March 30, 2012 By Gino Mattorano Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Academy will welcome a new senior enlisted leader to its ranks April 3 with the arrival of Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Ludwig. Ludwig takes over the Academy Headquarters command chief role from Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman, who is retiring after nearly 30 years of service. Ludwig comes to the Academy from the Pentagon, where he was the Chief of the Chiefs' Group in the Manpower and Personnel directorate. In that role, he was responsible for worldwide management and assignment placement of all active duty Chief Master Sergeants in the United States Air Force. The chief grew up in Detroit and Hastings, Neb., and began his Air Force career in 1984 as a Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Specialist. He has had assignments in Colorado, Alaska, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Republic of Korea. Ludwig is no stranger to the command chief role, as this will be his fourth assignment in that capacity. Prior to assuming his role as Chief of the Chiefs Group, Ludwig was the 7th Air Force command chief at Osan Air Base, Korea. His career highlights include being selected as a United States Air Forces in Europe Master Technician, an Air Training Command Master Instructor, and the Air Force Professional Military Education Manager of the Year. (Information courtesy Ludwig's official biography)