Senior Master Sgt. Steven Dowdy, the superintendent

Senior Master Sgt. Steven Dowdy, the superintendent of the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, stands with a fellow Air Commando after receiving a certificate of promotion from Col. Thomas Palenske, the commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, and Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Cruz-Munoz, the command chief of the 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field Fla., Dec. 8, 2016. Of the 2,229 senior master sergeants eligible for promotion to chief, 531 were selected at a 23.82 percent selection rate. Senior and chief master sergeant promotions are based on time in grade, time in service, enlisted performance reports, medals, skills knowledge tests, promotion fitness exams and a selection board. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)