Cannon welcomes next command chief Published July 18, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., welcomed its new command chief June 22. Chief Master Sgt. Paul Henderson, 27 SOW command chief, succeeded Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Caruso, who left Cannon in May to become the Combined Joint Special Operations Aviation Component command chief. "I left Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, June 3 and arrived here at the end of June," said Henderson. "I was command chief master sergeant for the 352nd Special Operations Group." Henderson first joined Air Force Special Operations Command in 1993 as an aircrew member on the MC-130H Combat Talon II. "I believe AFSOC is the command of choice within the Air Force," said Henderson. "I'd like to see Cannon become the base of choice within our command." Cannon's newest command chief spoke of how to realize that goal. "It will be a combination of our superior special operations capabilities, mission support, medical and maintenance functions that make Cannon the place to be," he said. "What we have here at our disposal is outstanding and first-rate." Henderson also praised the close ties Cannon shares with the surrounding communities, noting that they are unlike any he has ever seen. "The way we are taking care of Airmen and families is exceptional," said Henderson. "I volunteered to come here twice; the first time as the 27 Special Operations Group superintendent and now as command chief. It's a great place to raise a family and execute our critical mission." The chief noted the many changes that have taken place around the base and large amount of growth since he was last here in December 2009. "I'm hoping to bring a fresh perspective to the wing," said Henderson. "Colonel Elton and I have a great relationship; he is extremely fair and straightforward. You always know where he is coming from and you know what he expects from our Air Commandos." "I truly believe in leadership at all levels, no matter the rank," Henderson added. "It all comes down to core values, knowing the priorities of your commander, putting the mission first and taking care of our people." The chief drove home the idea of collaborating with professional organizations around base in the hopes of forming a more cohesive bond between professional organizations, from the Air Commando Enlisted Society to the Company Grade Officers' Council, to include Airmen Against Drunk Driving, Spouses Group and the Dorm Council. "I like to see our Airmen at all levels get involved, that is how we grow our leaders," said Henderson. "If we can coordinate the efforts of all our professional organizations and really sync what they are doing, I think we can yield a much larger impact for the base and within the local communities." "I like to think of my expectations for Airmen in terms of priorities with values tied in," he said. "We need our Air Commandos to stay mission-focused, be positive examples of our wing on and off duty, take care of themselves and each other, stay fit and be good stewards of our resources. I am proud to be part of this team and glad to be back at Cannon."