The Air Force announced Monday that it has selected a new enlisted leader for the service.
Chief Master Sgt. David Flosi, who is currently stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was chosen to be the 20th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, the service said in a news release. Flosi will take over for Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne Bass, the first woman to serve in the role, sometime in early 2024.
"We are serving at a time of great consequence where success hinges on our ability to optimize this team toward the changing character of war," Flosi said in the release.
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Flosi has big shoes to fill. Bass was not only the first woman in Air Force history to serve as the top enlisted leader, she was also the first woman in Defense Department history to serve as a service-level senior enlisted adviser, according to the release.
During her tenure, which began in August 2020, Bass has spearheaded numerous initiatives, such as examining barriers to service for women and minorities, all while using social media to communicate directly with the enlisted force.
"Chief Flosi is an incredibly strong leader who has proven himself in every role at every level," Bass said in a news release. "I have no doubt he will continue building and developing our Air Force to be the future force our nation needs to compete, deter and win in any domain."
Flosi is currently the command chief master sergeant of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. Prior to that, he was the command chief master sergeant at the Air Force's Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
He joined the Air Force in 1996 as a nuclear weapons specialist and has deployed throughout his career in support of operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel, according to his biography.
In his new role, Flosi will be the public representative and oversee policy for more than 600,000 airmen. The change comes at a time when the service is grappling with its most dire recruiting environment in more than two decades. This last fiscal year was the first time the service missed its enlisted recruiting goal since 1999.
It also comes as the Pentagon and the Department of the Air Force continue their competition with China and as threats continue to grow in the Pacific, Middle East and Europe.
"His unique experiences, attitude and commitment will prove essential as we reoptimize our force for great power competition," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said in a press release. "I am excited to work with him as we follow through on our efforts to meet today's pacing challenge."
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