Canfield resident served 31 years
Staff report
VIENNA
Air Force Reserve Chief Master Sgt. Troy K. Rhoades, command chief master sergeant and senior enlisted member of the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, recently retired after 31 years of service.
Brig. Gen. Udo K. McGregor, former 910th commander under whom Rhoades served, officiated at the retiree’s retirement ceremony that was attended by many members of the 910th.
“Troy was the command chief that was always calm, always giving of his time and effort. He was a counterbalance when I needed it and a rock for the wing after I left,” said McGregor.
As command chief, Rhoades advised the commander on matters concerning the health, morale, welfare and effective utilization of wing reservists. He also served as the commander’s representative to numerous committees, councils, boards and military and civilian functions.
Chief Master Sgt. Steven Larwood was selected by Col. James Dignan, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, to replace Rhoades as the wing’s command chief.
Rhoades, an Andover native, enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in September 1983 and joined the 910th in 1984 as a security police specialist. He was a member of the 910th Security Forces Squadron for 22 years rising to operations noncommissioned officer in charge and squadron superintendent.
Before his command-chief assignment, he was security forces manager, responsible for the management of five facilities, 72 traditional reservists, 23 civilians and 17 Air Reserve technicians. He also was assigned to Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters as security forces manager, responsible for providing functional and Reservist expertise for all 36 of the Air Force Reserve’s security forces units.
Rhoades also served as the advisor and liaison to the Air Force Reserve Command director of security forces on all Reserve Security Forces operational and readiness issues. He assumed the position of the 910th Airlift Wing’s Command Chief Master Sgt. Feb. 1, 2008. He was promoted to chief master sergeant July 1, 1999.
“At some point in our day or year, we have to look in the mirror, we have to like what we see,” said Rhoades. “I have a huge mirror and it’s not just me I see in the mirror but all of you. I hope someday all of you have a crowded mirror,” he said to the guests at his retirement ceremony.
Rhoades received numerous decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
His duty assignments included two deployments: February-June 2002, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and February 2003-June 2003, Camp Doha, Kuwait. From May 2006 to January 2008, he was security forces manager, Air Force Reserve Command Security Forces, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
Rhoades, son of Keith and Donna Rhoades of Andover, graduated from Pymatuning Valley High School in 1983 and received a bachelors degree in industrial marketing from Youngstown State University in 1990. He also completed numerous military schools.
He and his wife, Christine, daughter of John and Gloria Fedor of Canfield, live in Canfield.