MacDill Command Chief Retiring After Nearly 3 Decades In Uniform

Posted Nov 6, 2011 by Howard Altman

Updated Nov 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM

After 29 years in the Air Force, CMSgt. Derrick D. Crowley, the Command Chief of MacDill Air Force Base, is retiring.

During his career, Crowley has won the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters and Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal.

He told A1C Michael Ellis in a story on the MacDill website that he credits his greatest achievement to his family.

“Staying married for 28 years and my daughter seeing the continual love and admiration we have for each other is the greatest thing I can ever do,” Crowley told Ellis. “We’re all going to either retire or separate from the military. When you do, your love ones will be the ones standing by your side. The saddest thing is to do all these things and in the end there’s no one to share it with.”