4 NCOs selected for promotion to chief master sgt. Published Nov. 21, 2013 By Ray Bowden Academy Spirit editor U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Four Academy Airmen have been selected for promotion to chief master sergeant, the Air Force's highest enlisted grade: Senior Master Sgts. Jackson Helzer, Jason Malec, Patrick Shaw and Doug Suddueth. The Air Force Personnel Center released the list of chief master sergeant-selects Nov. 14. Of the 2,023 senior master sergeants eligible for promotion to chief, 400 were selected - a near 20-percent selection rate, said an AFPC news release. "Every promotion is special, but being selected for the top enlisted grade is a tremendous accomplishment," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Ludwig, the Academy's command chief. "It's the culmination of so many years of demonstrated leadership. Everyone in the unit should celebrate these promotions. Making chief can't be done without the support of families and Airmen they serve with everyday." Promotion to chief is based on weighted factors including time in grade, time in service, enlisted performance reports, decorations, promotion fitness exams and selection board scores. "The board process used in selecting chief master sergeants looks deep into their personnel records to help ensure the right people are selected," Ludwig said. Helzer, a native of Fairfield, Calif., is the Cadet Wing Training and Support superintendent. He learned of his selection status when Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Greg Lengyel called him in for an impromptu meeting. "That's how I found out but, before that, I honestly didn't know what to think when I saw Chief Ludwig walk in the room," he said. "The humbling piece of this story is that I had senior cadets here and lieutenants who recently graduated the Academy who knew me and were calling and texting their congratulations. It was just an incredible experience to know that I had that kind of impact on them." Helzer said his selection for promotion "really hit home" while he read a congratulatory email to all new chief-selects from Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Dooms, president of the Colorado Springs Area Chiefs' Group. "He concluded his email with 'welcome to the one-percent' -- the feeling I got from reading that and knowing that was incredible," Helzer said. Shaw, a native of Guntersville, Ala., is the 10th Medical Group's first sergeant. He's been an Airman for 25 years and was coming up against his high-year tenure, he said. "It was a relief because this was my last go-round to have the opportunity to continue to serve and be able to work with Airmen," he said. During the early stages of his career, Shaw said "he couldn't imagine" being promoted to chief. "It was the farthest thing from my mind at the time," he said. "I knew I wanted to make a career out of the Air Force, but I just didn't know how to put it all together at the time." Suddueth, a native of Winchester, Va. is the 10th Medical Support Squadron's superintendent of medical logistics. He's the No. 1 chief-select for his Air Force specialty, medical logistics. "This is a huge surprise," he said. "I never imagined I would make chief master sergeant on my first try. I'm still amazed." On Family The chief-selects each say their success is due in large part to the support of their Air Force and civilian families. "My wife Andrea is very excited," Helzer said. This is the result of a team effort - all those years she's supported me. You just can't quantify the impact she had on 'our' selection to chief." Malec, a native of Waterford, Ohio, is the Academy's Manpower and Personnel superintendent. He also cites his family as a "big factor" in his selection for chief. "I couldn't have this without their support," he said. "I couldn't have gotten to the point without the great mentors and leaders and the support of my family. Without my support network - my family, my friends, and all the Airmen I've served with, this would not have been possible for me." Shaw said his wife, Candy Shaw, and the rest of his family, brings a much sense of equilibrium to his career. "They bring a balance - without having this balance of family life and career, I never would have made it this far. Suddueth said his No. 1 support system is his immediate family: his wife Krista Suddeuth and his daughters, Kaitlyn, Ashley and Emma. "My No. 2 inspiration would be my flight," he said. "Without them, (being selected for chief) would not be possible. They strive for perfection every day and it's their hard work and effort that made my selection possible. "My No. 3 inspiration or support would have to be the mentorship I've received from my leadership, my peers and the unwavering support of several chief master sergeants' who told me anything is possible." On the future Shaw has been a first sergeant for nine years but he said he's "caught wind" from Air Force leadership that he might be returning to his original Air Force specialty: air transportation. Regardless of where the Air Force may take Airmen, they should have faith in themselves and their ability to someday become a chief, should they wish to do so, he said. "You can't let challenges overcome you," he said. "I try to convey to my Airmen that adversity is going to occur, but you can overcome it. It's not about what went wrong - it's about how you carry yourself after those challenges occur." Suddueth said taking care of Airmen is a top priority, as is making sure they understand and embody the Air Force Core Values. "There is a need to prepare our future leaders to carry on the high standards each Airman is sworn to uphold," he said. "They will lead this Air Force long after we're gone, so we need to instill our core values in them now so they will carry on with the Air Force are tradition of success and teach their subordinates how to succeed." Helzer said he simply looks forward to continuing to serve his country. "I'm excited and ready to do whatever the Air Force asks of me," he said. The promotion process The chief-selects will be promoted according to their promotion sequence number beginning in January. Selections are tentative until the data verification process is scheduled to be completed by Sunday. These Airmen will be notified if their selection is in question. The average score for the chief-selects was 671.81; the average time in grade 3.08 years and time in service 22.24 years; the average enlisted performance reports score 135; the average decorations score 24.30; the average promotion fitness exam score 76.31; and the average board score 388.14. To see the list of chief-selects, visit my.af.mil or mypers.af.mil. Chief-selects can access their score notices on the virtual military personnel flight and Air Force Portal. Debbie Gildea, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs, contributed to this report.