Retired Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne Bass made history as the first female enlisted leader of the Air Force, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in the military—and she’s just getting started.
“I’m the daughter of the military, honestly. My dad was a warrant officer in the Army and met my mom in Korea when he was stationed there,” she explained. “What’s pretty fascinating about both of them is they were both immigrants to our country and came here to make such a wonderful life.”
Inspired by her parents, Bass was unsure of what she wanted to pursue after high school.
“Because I grew up all over the place as a military brat, I never really felt like I had a ‘home.’ I thought I would go to college until I realized I just wasn’t mature enough yet,” Bass said. “My dad told me that four years in the military never hurt anyone and I decided to take him at his word. I thought I would do four years, build some maturity, and then use the G.I. Bill to go to college when I was ready. But then my enlistment was up.”
Ultimately, the reenlistment bonus and, she laughingly shared, the need to pay off her Honda Civic were motivations to keep going in the Air Force.
“It was probably right after that I really joined the Air Force. I was able to go on some incredible deployments and truly understand what it meant to wear our nation’s cloth and uniform,” Bass added.
Bass’s commitment to mentorship and professional development helped empower countless individuals, fostering a more inclusive and resilient force. As she continued to rise through the ranks, she was quick to pull others up with her.
“Probably the most rewarding thing about service in the military is that you inherit another family. I look back and it’s those relationships that have made my life so much richer,” she explained. “I would also say that you can’t talk about service and the goodness of service without knowing that you’re doing something that helps ensure that our nation is safe, free and prosperous, too. It is what I think every service member, at some point in their career, will realize. What they’re doing is a worthy cause.”
One of her focus areas as she began to earn leadership positions was Air Force families. Though she had a faraway hope of being the most senior leader in the Air Force, it was one that was quickly buried under the work.
“Fast forward into year eight, and I’m a non-commissioned officer. I’m just trying to survive, right? You’re trying to be an NCO, you’re trying to be a spouse and you’re trying to be a mom. It’s a lot,” she laughed. “There was never a real thought of being a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force. You’re just in survival mode and doing your job and doing it well. Then I became a Chief in the Air Force as an E9 and not too much longer after, I was selected to Chief Master Sergeant.”
When Bass got the news, she remembered her mother’s sage advice: do your job and do it well. It was something she always told her and the words followed Bass throughout her life.
“When I asked what I wanted to do in the new position, I just told people I was going to do what I had always done, which was take care of the people around me and do my best,” she explained. “Our Airmen were counting on me to do my job and do it well and if I did it well, then there will be a second female Chief Master in the Air Force or a third. And one day—we’ll quit counting.”
As Bass reflects back on the moment she was named Chief, there’s some laughter in recalling how she told a crowd of Airmen she felt sorry for the next one. This was attributed to the position being a rough one, open to endless criticism and, at times, thankless. But it was worth it.
“I felt like it was the best job in the world. I got to advocate and fight the fight behind closed doors to make sure that our Airmen and their families are thought of and taken care of and advocated for at the most senior levels of our nation,” Bass shared. “We did everything that we could within our realm of influence and then you pass the baton to the next person and you tell them, run hard. Our nation’s counting on you.”
In retirement, Bass continues to advocate for military families but is thoroughly enjoying sleeping past her usual 0430 wake-up alarm. Transitioning for her was successful, which she credits to recognizing she had an identity outside of her uniform.
“I now have an opportunity and a platform where I can focus on this rising generation, which is our youth who deeply matter to national security. I can also use my voice to advocate for veterans who have served their country; whether it’s four years or 28 years. We’ve got to make sure that we take care of the 1% of Americans who serve,” Bass implored.
As she lends her efforts to initiatives focusing on future generations for national security, Bass is also deeply passionate about ending homelessness. As a board member of Mighty Hero Homes, she’s proud to lend her voice to championing this issue.
And though she may be known for her speeches, Bass admits it isn’t something she looks forward to—at least initially. Knowing the value of connecting is a motivator, along with listening to DMX and Run-DMC, she added.
Her last message to aspiring leaders was simple.
“I got in enough trouble as a teenager in Hawaii that I was banned from every military installation in Hawaii. If somebody like me could become the Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, then anybody could do it,” Bass said.
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