FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Friday, January 6 could not have been a more perfect day for Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Lambing, command chief of the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC). That day Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, the Air Force Surgeon General, confirmed Lambing will be the new Chief of the Medical Enlisted Force.
Lambing will assume his new position, the highest post that an Air Force medical technician can achieve, on May 15 in the office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, in Washington, D.C.
According to Lambing, one word describes how he feels about this selection.
"Humbled."
"The most exciting aspect of the job for me is knowing I will get to see the great work our 32,000 Air Force medics are performing around the globe," said Lambing. "We ask a lot of our personnel and it will be exciting to see them in a multitude of complex roles as they live up to the Air Force Medical Service's (AFMS) mantra of "'Trusted Care Anywhere'," he said.
The Lufkin, Texas native currently serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the commandant of METC, the largest medical enlisted training center for Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in the Department of Defense. He advises on all matters affecting quality, welfare, morale, and professional development of 1,400 Air Force, Army and Navy permanent party personnel and 21,000 students annually. He also develops and coordinates policies with Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard senior officers and enlisted command leaders.
As an aerospace medical service technician, Lambing has worked in diverse jobs, with an extensive background in critical care and hemodialysis units. Lambing was the Air Force's emergency medical services (EMS) program manager where he served as the EMS/hazardous materials consultant to the Air Force surgeon general and served on the board of directors for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Before assuming his current position, Lambing served as chief of the medical enlisted force of the Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. There, he was the principal advisor to the command surgeon and senior staff regarding medical enlisted matters.
Previously, Lambing has served as an enlisted leader at the element, flight, squadron, group, and major command levels. His assignments include bases in Germany, Mississippi, Texas, Japan, and Washington.
"The Air Force has been such a blessing in the life of my family. [My wife] Sheliea and the kids are just as excited as I am about this new adventure," said Lambing.
"I started my career 27.5 years ago and I never conceived I would culminate my career in the pinnacle enlisted leadership position for the AFMS. It's a wow moment for sure and I owe this to the many mentors in my career and the shoulders of the giants we all stand on in the AFMS."