New AFRS Chief is here for you Published Nov. 16, 2018 By Chrissy Cuttita AFRS Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- When a 26-year-veteran Airman was asked to lead the more than 2,400 Airmen behind all of the Air Force’s enlisted accessions and a variety of officer accession programs, she welcomed it with enthusiasm. “I truly believe this is the most important job in the Air Force,” said Chief Master Sgt. Sonia Lee who moved into the AFRS Command Chief office Nov. 9, 2018. “As my predecessor said, without recruiters there are no Airmen, without Airmen there is no airpower.” She already had a sense of the mission with one recruiting squadron visit already under her belt and a previous personnelist assignment at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph on her resume. “My priorities, outside of providing the resources recruiters need, are resiliency and professional development,” said the chief. “Due to their duty location, our recruiters don’t often get the same opportunities as other NCOs stationed on a military installation. I want to try and get them those opportunities through other means.” As a career personnelist, Lee always had an appreciation and dedication to taking care of Airmen. The chief said she likes to look at the whole picture of an Airman; making sure they have the resources they need, a good quality of life, a solid family structure and an opportunity to grow professionally. When she visits recruiters in the field, Chief Lee would like to take a walk in their shoes. That means she’d like to go on school visits, evaluate what community support they have, see what ways she can help, and talk to the Airmen to see what is on their mind. “You are more effective in making change when you have seen them in action, in their environment,” said Lee. She plans to travel to recruiting offices often and bring her husband, Kendall, with her when she can. He retired as a master sergeant after 21 years of service in the civil engineering career field as an engineer assistant. “You have an advocate in both of us,” she said about her and her family. “I believe in team. It will be a team effort where everyone has a voice and gets a vote. It is not about me, but what I can do for them.” Serving her country has been the number one reason Lee continues to wear the uniform. To read more about her experience in the Air Force, read her biography here.