Airmen welcome Peterson's new chief Published Oct. 11, 2006 By Senior Airman Jessica Switzer 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Peterson AFB, Colo. -- The new 21st Space Wing command chief master sergeant took his seat in the Wing headquarters in mid-September. Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Omdal was sweating his way through an Iraq deployment in mid-July when he found out he was going to be the next command chief master sergeant for the 21st Space Wing. Though excited to take the position, the chief, who had been in security forces for all 25 years of his career, was also a little apprehensive. "I was nervous," he said. "Like anyone, when you do something for 25 years of your life and all of a sudden you get thrown into a different environment there's apprehension." Chief Omdal is confident that he can handle the duties that come with the new office down the hall from the wing commander. The wing command chief is a partner with the wing commander, Col. Jay G. Santee. Together they carry forward not only the Air Force vision and mission but th goals of what the wing commander has envisioned for the 21st Space Wing, Chief Omdal said. "I help make sure Airmen understand what part they play in the wing's mission and how important they are to that," he said. "I also listen to the concerns of the entire population of the wing and bring those issues back to the wing commander. I help work those issues to make things better for our enlisted and the entire force." This is Chief Omdal's first time as a wing command chief master sergeant, but he's had a lot of experience leading Airmen. "He's doing a great job," said Colonel Santee. "He's dedicated to getting to know the Airmen in the wing and making sure their needs are met. I'm very impressed with his ability." The chief has already been out to see what goes on around the wing and has been very impressed with what he's seen. "As I've been out and about to the various areas in the wing, I've gotten a new appreciation of what our Airmen are doing across the wing and what a great job they're doing," he said. "I've talked to everyone from the deployed Airmen we have out in the AOR and Airmen working at the home station and I couldn't be prouder of what our folks are doing." The Airmen of the 21st Space Wing work hard and make leadership proud, but Chief Omdal also wants Airmen to remember the importance of having balance in life. "People need to have balance and they need to understand that they need to take care of their families and their own personal and professional desires," he said. "They need to take the opportunities to go to school, take the opportunities to spend time with their families. It's critical that they take, and make, the opportunities for time with their families, to go to school and to be involved in their community." (Senior Airman Mandy Weightman contributed to this article.)