Robins command chief bids fond farewell Published June 11, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- With 24 years in the Air Force and as a veteran of numerous combat deployments, Chief Master Sgt. Harold "Buddy" Hutchison thought his time in the combat zone was about over. Serving the past two years as the installation command chief, however, gave him a change of heart. Working with Airmen here as they prepared for deployment and returned gave him a desire to put his experience where it would be needed most. Now he is headed back to Iraq to serve as command chief of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, the unit of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. "Once you become a command chief and you are serving all of the men and women, there's something to be said about serving the men and women who are on the front lines in harm's way," he said. "I've always wanted to do one more deployment in this capacity." His last day on the job here is Monday, and he deploys to Joint Base Balad on June 27. "This was a rewarding experience to be the command chief here at Robins," he said. "It was an opportunity to broaden my experience level. I am a better chief because of my experiences with all of the mission sets that we handle here." Hutchison has served in his current position since October 2008. He is a former kennel master and has served extensively in security forces operations. His replacement is Chief Master Sgt. Pat Bowen, currently stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Bowen is scheduled to arrive here in September. "I would like to thank all the men and women of Robins for helping me do my job of taking care of our people and their families," Hutchison said. "I'm proud to have served alongside them and Robins will always have a special place in my heart."