Chief Master Sergeant Hope Leihua Skibitsky is the Superintendent of Air Force
Basic Military Training (BMT) and Airmen’s Week at the 737th Training Group,
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She is responsible for the supervision, leadership
and training of more than 800 permanent party personnel, and a daily student load
of more than 6,000. The Group executes all aspects of the Air Force’s enlisted
recruit training program, and ensures the orderly transition from civilian to military
life for 36,000 Active Duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve non-prior
service accessions annually.
Hailing from Ranger, Texas, Chief Skibitsky entered the Air Force in September
1995. She enrolled in the Medical Technician Apprentice technical training course at
Sheppard AFB, Texas in October of 1995 and graduated Phase II in April of 1996.
Her prior assignment was Superintendent, 48th Medical Operations Squadron at
Royal Air Force Lakenheath. During her tenure as superintendent she was
Responsible for seven flights and a $9 Million operating budget in support of 35,000
Department of Defense and family member beneficiaries. She performed program
analysis, shaped policy, and advised the Commander on squadron climate for over
225 military, civilian, and contract personnel. She stepped out of the medical field
two previous times; first to serve as a Military Training Instructor and then as a
Career Assistance Advisor, molding Airmen at all phases in their career. She has
served in leadership positions at Element, Flight, Squadron, Group and Wing levels
and while previously assigned to Lackland AFB, served as the Lackland
Ambassador.
Chief Skibitsky’s background includes duties in Education and Training, Health and
Wellness, and Base Honor Guard. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human
Resources Management, through Ashford University. She is a certified facilitator in
multiple professional development training courses, and is passionate about the
development of Airmen at all levels. Her assignments include bases in Texas,
California, and England as well as multiple deployments in support of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1995 Aerospace Medical Service Technical Training Phase I, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1996 Aerospace Medical Service Technical Training Phase II, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1998 Basic Instructor Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2001 Airman Leadership School (ALS), RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom
2004 Military Training Instructor School (MTIS), Lackland AFB, Texas
2005 Associates of Applied Science, Allied Health Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2005 Associates of Applied Science, Instructor in Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), Lackland AFB, Texas
2007 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course, Joint Forces Staff College
2009 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2016 Chief Leadership Course (CLC), Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
2016 Combined Senior Leadership Course (CSLC), Defense Health Headquarters, Fairfax, Virginia
2017 Continuous Process Improvement Senior Leadership Course, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
2017 Chief Leadership Course (CLC), Gunter AFB, Alabama
2017 Bachelor of Arts, Human Resources Management, Ashford University, Clinton, IA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1996-July 1998, Medical Technician, Labor and Delivery, 82 MDOS, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. July 1998-May 2000, Enlisted Training Program Coordinator, 82 MDG, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 2000-March 2002, Shift Leader, Labor and Delivery, 48 MDOS, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
4. March 2002-March 2003, NCOIC, Family Practice Red Team, 48 MDOS, RAF Lakenheath, United
5. [May 2002-September 2002] Shift Leader, Emergency Department, 379 EMEDS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
6. March 2003-June 2004, NCOIC, Health and Wellness Center, 48 AMDS, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
7. June 2004-April 2006, Military Training Instructor, 323 TRS, Lackland AFB, Texas
8. April 2006-May 2007, Military Drill & Ceremonies NCO, 323 TRS, Lackland AFB, Texas
9. May 2007-August 2008, NCOIC, Standardizations & Evaluations, 737 TRG, Lackland AFB, Texas
10. August 2008-September 2009, NCOIC, Labor and Delivery, 60 IPTS, Travis AFB, California
11. September 2009-May 2010, Flight Chief, Emergency Services, 60 MDOS, Travis AFB, California
12. May 2010-January 2011, Flight Chief, Family Medicine, 60 MDOS, Travis AFB, California
13. [December 2010-July 2011] NCOIC, Emergency Department & Outpatient Clinic, 455 EMDOS, Bagram, Afghanistan
14. January 2011-May 2012, Flight Superintendent FMC & PEDS, 60 MDOS, Travis AFB, California
15. May 2012-May 2015, Base Career Assistance Advisor & First Term Airman Center Manager, Travis AFB, California
16. May 2015-March 2016, Superintendent, 60th Inpatient Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, California
17. March 2016-September 2017, Superintendent, 48th Medical Operations Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
18. September 2017- Present, Superintendent, 737th Training Group, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 ALS John L. Levitow Award
2004 MTIS Distinguished Graduate Award
2004 MTIS Excellence In Instruction Award
2007 NCOA Commandant’s Award
2007 NCOA Distinguished Graduate Award
2013 Air Force General Billy J. Bowles Mentorship Award
2014 SNCO Lance P. Sijan Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman March 13, 1996
Airman First Class January 13, 1997
Senior Airman September13, 1998
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2001
Technical Sergeant June 1, 2005
Master Sergeant April 1, 2010
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2013
Chief Master Sergeant August 1, 2016
(Current as of September 2017)