Keesler Air Force Base command chief out after investigation, South MS base officials say
Chief Master Sgt. Michael Venning has been relieved of his position as command chief of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
Col. Billy Pope, the commander of the 81st Training Wing, said a “command-directed investigation” into Venning resulted in his removal, effective Sept. 23.
Col. Pope had temporarily reassigned Venning on July 30 while the investigation took place, a release from base officials said.
A command chief is the highest-ranking enlisted personnel in their unit, which in this case was the 81st Training Wing
According to Venning’s biography, he is a native of Australia who joined the Air Force in 2000. He earned his U.S. citizenship in 2005.
By 2014, he was named one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
His service included six years in a combat communications unit as a power production specialist. In 2006, he retrained into contracting.
Venning also served as commander of the NCO Academy and Airman Leadership School, and deployed four times to support Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.
He also served as command chief for the 100th Air Refueling Wings at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom before taking on the role at Keesler.
As wing command chief, he is a senior enlisted advisor to a base or wing commander. As command chief, he oversees the base’s professional development, readiness issues, and health, morale, and welfare of the wing’s 12,000 military and civilian Airmen and acts as “functional manager” for chief master sergeants and first sergeants, the biography said.
This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 3:16 PM.
