KIRTLA
ND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. —
Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Robson, command chief, 150th Special Operations Wing, retires March 1 after nearly four years in that role. Altogether he has spent 32 years with the New Mexico Air National Guard, in many roles, units,
and assignments.
and assignments.
Robson spent his first 17 years in the NMANG working in F-16 weapons, where he did everything from loading the
bombs to maintenance and electronics. Following that he moved to an altogether different unit.
bombs to maintenance and electronics. Following that he moved to an altogether different unit.
“I had the opportunity to transition to target intelligence. I went in there and got to stand up a training
department and work my way up through the operations side, being the superintendent, into the squadron
chief, and then eventually to the wing Command Chief,” said Robson. “I absolutely love target intelligence. I
just did the things that you get to do that impacts – within hours of making decisions and providing
information. It is an amazing experience to be that close to the action and providing information that
commanders need, that quick and that short.”
department and work my way up through the operations side, being the superintendent, into the squadron
chief, and then eventually to the wing Command Chief,” said Robson. “I absolutely love target intelligence. I
just did the things that you get to do that impacts – within hours of making decisions and providing
information. It is an amazing experience to be that close to the action and providing information that
commanders need, that quick and that short.”
As Chief Robson prepares to retire, he’s taking time to look back on his career and some of the interesting
adventures he has had.
adventures he has had.
“I remember back, really the first TDY (temporary duty) was an ORI (operational readiness inspection) at
Gulfport, Mississippi, where we spent two weeks of hell wearing full chem gear. But that was a true cementing
of what it meant to be in the military back then. And then a year later, we got to go to Aviano, Italy, and spend
some time there, right at the at the beginning of one of the events that was happening in Bosnia Herzegovina.
So, you know, an introduction to the world and the stressors that we have and conflicts that we have. I think
Intel has taken me all over the place and I had some really neat experiences along the way,” said Robson.
Gulfport, Mississippi, where we spent two weeks of hell wearing full chem gear. But that was a true cementing
of what it meant to be in the military back then. And then a year later, we got to go to Aviano, Italy, and spend
some time there, right at the at the beginning of one of the events that was happening in Bosnia Herzegovina.
So, you know, an introduction to the world and the stressors that we have and conflicts that we have. I think
Intel has taken me all over the place and I had some really neat experiences along the way,” said Robson.
Chief Robson almost took a different path when he was thinking about joining the military, but in the end, he
found the Air National Guard and a home for his entire career.
found the Air National Guard and a home for his entire career.
“When I was going to join the Navy, I had a couple buddies say, ‘let’s just go down and see what the guard has
to offer.’ We came here (NMANG), we walked around and talked to people. It was evident on day one, it was a
family. That’s really what cemented my decision to join, I’m gonna be where I feel like I’m part of a family. And
it has always been that. I’ve gone all over the place and visited other units, seen cultures in many different
places, and they’ve never been the level of family that I’ve seen here,” said Robson.
to offer.’ We came here (NMANG), we walked around and talked to people. It was evident on day one, it was a
family. That’s really what cemented my decision to join, I’m gonna be where I feel like I’m part of a family. And
it has always been that. I’ve gone all over the place and visited other units, seen cultures in many different
places, and they’ve never been the level of family that I’ve seen here,” said Robson.
And family continues to be very important to Robson, as is the tradition of serving in the military.
“So this is an interesting story for me. My grandfather, when he was in the he was in the Army in World War II,
retired when he hit the max rank. He did EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) and combat engineering, and he
taught the EOD school. So, when I joined, originally, I joined because it was service. But there was a point where
I was like, I’m gonna recognize his service. I’m going to get to E-7 so I got to E-7 and I thought I was done. It
was 20 years, but then I had the opportunity to keep going right? And so, when I got to E-8 it was like, well, now
I need to get to E-9. Honestly, one of the biggest impacts for me was when I went to my grandfather’s grave after
I became Command Chief, and I left my rank there for him,” said Robson.
retired when he hit the max rank. He did EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) and combat engineering, and he
taught the EOD school. So, when I joined, originally, I joined because it was service. But there was a point where
I was like, I’m gonna recognize his service. I’m going to get to E-7 so I got to E-7 and I thought I was done. It
was 20 years, but then I had the opportunity to keep going right? And so, when I got to E-8 it was like, well, now
I need to get to E-9. Honestly, one of the biggest impacts for me was when I went to my grandfather’s grave after
I became Command Chief, and I left my rank there for him,” said Robson.
As Chief Robson prepares to leave the military and the NMANG, he has some words of wisdom for those who
are just starting their careers.
are just starting their careers.
“I always tell Airmen look at the educational opportunities. Do them quickly. You don’t want to be a 40-year-old
working on a bachelor’s degree. You want to do it earlier in your life,” said Robson.
working on a bachelor’s degree. You want to do it earlier in your life,” said Robson.
Chief Robson is not relaxing after retirement, he already has a job at Sandia Labs, working organizational
development and hopefully making a difference for leaders there, as he did at the 150th Special Operations
Wing. But he will always have the wing on his mind.
development and hopefully making a difference for leaders there, as he did at the 150th Special Operations
Wing. But he will always have the wing on his mind.
“Thank you for everybody for helping and mentoring me and being a family to me. I will miss everybody,” said
Robson.
Robson.