Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gets Firsthand Look at Exchange Operations
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, center, asks a question about the Exchange Credit Program Call Center during his tour of Exchange HQ. President and Chief Merchandising Officer Ana Middleton, left, and Corliss Boettcher, the call center manager, right, took Wright and his staff on the tour.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright made his first visit to Exchange headquarters Oct. 25 for an in-depth look at how the Department of Defense’s oldest retail serves Airmen, Soldiers and their families.
Wright met with Ana Middleton, president/chief merchandising officer; Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes, senior enlisted advisor; Jim Jordan, executive vice president/chief financial officer; Karen Stack, executive vice president/chief logistics officer; and other senior leaders to discuss Exchange operations, the Exchange Credit Program, services and food, and military clothing.
“It’s been phenomenal to have the Exchange available through deployments and overseas assignments,” said Wright, who has served in the Air Force for nearly 30 years. “Now, as a senior leader in the Air Force, I’m comforted to know that the Exchange is everywhere Airmen and Soldiers go.”
“It’s been phenomenal to have the Exchange available through deployments and overseas assignments. Now, as a senior leader in the Air Force, I’m comforted to know that the Exchange is everywhere Airmen and Soldiers go.”
-Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright
During his visit to HQ on Oct. 25, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright videotapes a shoutout for the Veterans online shopping benefit and the BE FIT program.
Dividends: military-Exchange partnership
Wright, who serves on the Exchange Board of Directors, recognizes the importance of the Exchange as force multiplier. 100 percent of Exchange earnings support military communities, including a dividend paid to Quality-of-Life programs for Airmen, Soldiers and families.
In 2017, the Exchange generated $219 million for these programs.
“The dividend epitomizes the partnership between our military and the Exchange,” Wright said. “Our service members shop the Exchange and get everything they need. And in turn, the Exchange puts money back into our bases so we can help support service members and their families.”
Appreciating the mission, passion
The CMSAF is a sole position, the highest enlisted rank of the Air Force, who provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government.
He serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.
During his visit, Wright also met with Exchange military personnel and recorded video shout-outs reminding Veterans they can shop online tax-free at ShopMyExchange.com and promoting the Exchange’s BE FIT program.
“It was an honor to host CMSAF Wright at Exchange headquarters,” Reyes said. “He understands and appreciates the Exchange mission and our associates’ passion for serving the best customers in the world.”
