Chief Master Sgt. Amber L. Westie is the Command Chief, 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, Great Falls, Montana. As the Command Chief, she is the primary advisor to the commander and senior staff on all matters influencing the professional development, training, combat readiness, utilization, quality of life and mission effectiveness of assigned enlisted personnel.
Chief Master Sgt. Westie joined the Montana Air National Guard in September 1990, she graduated from Medical Laboratory Technical School in December 1991. In 1999, Chief Master Sgt. Westie left the Montana Air National Guard to pursue civilian opportunities after graduation. In September 2002, she returned to the Montana Air National Guard as a laboratory technician. In February 2006, Chief Master Sgt. Westie cross trained into Bioenvironmental Engineering. In December of 2008 she started as an Industrial Hygiene Technician. In 2012, she became the full-time base Industrial Hygienist until 2019 when she became the Medical Group Superintendent. In December 2018 Chief Master Sgt. Westie deployed to Al Dhafra Air Force Base, United Arab Emirates as Flight Chief where she was responsible for occupational health and safety for over 2500 Airmen. During her tenure in Medical Group she was responsible for the management of health services activities including programs and operations, force management, medical staffing, financial management and strategic planning.
Additionally, she ensured occupational health and safety, radiation safety and environmental monitoring to maintain and promote the health and well-being of Airmen. Chief Master Sgt. Westie served the men and women that make up the Montana Air National Guard including the 120th Airlift Wing, 219th Red Horse Squadron, and Joint Forces Headquarters. Additional duties she had were wing inspection team member, self-assessment monitor, vehicle control officer, unit antiterrorism representative, readiness reporting monitor, and Air Mobility Command Inspector General augmentee. Prior to assuming her current position she was the Medical Group Superintendent.
Chief Master Sgt. Westie attended Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physics. Upon completion of her degree in 1999, CMSgt Westie worked in air and water quality management for a major aluminum manufacturer in Longview, Washington. In 2002, she returned to Great Falls, Montana, working in the dairy industry as a quality control specialist and the Montana Air National Guard, as a laboratory technician. She was employed by the American Red Cross in the quality assurance department becoming the Western division data analyst.
EDUCATION:
1991 Medical Laboratory Apprentice, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1993 Basic Emergency Medical Technician, 120th Medical Group, Montana Air National Guard
1993 Noncommissioned Officer Prep Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
1999 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Minor in Physics, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash.
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Bioenvironmental Engineering Craftsman, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, Texas
2010 NIMS: ICS 300 and 400, State of Montana, Disaster and Emergency Services, Great Falls, Mont.
2010 Occupational Medicine course, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, Texas
2013 A+ Certification CompTIA, Great Falls, Mont.
2013 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Permit Required Confined Space, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint PME, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., by correspondence
2015 Associate of Applied Science Degree, Bioenvironmental Engineering Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2019 Chief Master Sergeants Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1.June 1991–August 1991, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2.August 1991–February 1992, Student, Technical Training School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3.February 1992–December 1999, Medical Laboratory Craftsman, 120th Medical Squadron, 120th FW, Great Falls, Mont.
4.December 1999–September 2002, assigned to the Inactive Ready Reserve
5.September 2002–February 2006, Medical Laboratory Craftsman, 120th Medical Group, 120th FW, Great Falls, Mont.
6.February 2006–January 2019, Bioenvironmental Engineering, 120th Medical Group, 120th AW, Great Falls, Mont.
(October 2018–April 2019, Aerospace Medical Dental Flight Chief, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
7.January 2019–December 2020, Group Superintendent, 120th Medical Group, 120th AW, Great Falls, Mont.
8.December 2020–Present, Command Chief, 120th AW, Great Falls, Mont.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with “7” device
Montana Distinguished Service Medal
Montana Commendation Medal with four oak leaf Clusters
Montana Outstanding Unit Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2005 Outstanding Performer, Health Services Inspection, Montana Air National Guard
2006 Honor Graduate, Bioenvironmental Engineering Apprentice course, Brooks City Base, Texas
2009 Outstanding performer, Environmental Safety Occupational Health Compliance Inspections, Montana Air National Guard