DALLAS – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright made his first visit to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service headquarters Oct. 25 for an in-depth look at how the Department of Defense’s oldest retailer serves Airmen, Soldiers and their families.
Wright met with Ana Middleton, Exchange president/chief merchandising officer; Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes, Exchange senior enlisted advisor; Jim Jordan, executive vice president/chief financial officer; Karen Stack, executive vice president/chief logistics officer; and other senior leaders to discuss Exchange operations, the Exchange Credit Program, services and food, and military clothing.
“It’s been phenomenal to have the Exchange available through deployments and overseas assignments,” said Wright, who has served in the Air Force for nearly 30 years. “Now, as a senior leader in the Air Force, I’m comforted to know that the Exchange is everywhere Airmen and Soldiers go.”
Wright, who serves on the Exchange Board of Directors, recognizes the importance of the Exchange as force multiplier. 100 percent of Exchange earnings support military communities, including a dividend paid to Quality-of-Life programs for Airmen, Soldiers and families. In 2017, the Exchange generated $219 million for these programs.
“The dividend epitomizes the partnership between our military and the Exchange,” Wright said. “Our service members shop the Exchange and get everything they need. And in turn, the Exchange puts money back into our bases so we can help support service members and their families.”
The CMSAF is a sole position, the highest enlisted rank of the Air Force, who provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He serves as the personal advisor to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.
During his visit, Wright also met with Exchange military personnel and recorded video shout-outs reminding Veterans they can shop online tax-free at ShopMyExchange.com and promoting the Exchange’s BE FIT program.
“It was an honor to host CMSAF Wright at Exchange headquarters,” Reyes said. “He understands and appreciates the Exchange mission and our associates’ passion for serving the best customers in the world.”
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 61st-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Sgt. 1st Class Tim Meyer, 214-312-2132 or [email protected].