QUANTICO, Va. -- Chief Master Sgt. James Hoy stepped into his new role as the Office of Special Investigations command chief Aug. 2, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the federal law enforcement agency.
“It is an honor to stand before you today,” Hoy said, during the ceremony. “I am humbled by the weight of the position I am entering, the proud legacy of OSI Command Chiefs preceding me, and I am inspired by the challenges ahead of us.”
Most recently, Hoy served as senior enlisted leader for the 5th Field Investigations Region, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he advised the commander on matters impacting readiness, training and professional development for more than 270 personnel.
With a career spanning two decades, Hoy’s journey to leading OSI’s enlisted corps began in 2002 as a Security Forces Defender, with assignments in Wyoming and the United Kingdom, and deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hoy joined OSI 16 years ago. Since then, has held many roles, including Personal Security Adviser to the U.S. Transportation Command commander, multiple deployments to places like Kirkuk Regional Airbase, Iraq, and with Task Force Black in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Building on these years of experience, Hoy will ensure the policies of Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, OSI’s commander, are carried out, while advising her as one of OSI’s Top 4 leaders.
“Chief Hoy is well known for building resilient, focused, and high-performing teams that can operate in any environment, which is exactly what our Air Force needs,” Bumgarner said.
“Our adversaries are increasingly sophisticated, employing cyber warfare, espionage and other covert tactics,” Hoy said. “In this context, OSI’s role is paramount. We are needed now more than perhaps ever before. We defend the nation by uncovering threats, pursuing justice, and protecting the Department of the Air Force.”
During the ceremony, Hoy exchanged his badge, No. 2768, for the No. 9 badge, carried by previous OSI command chiefs, including the chief he succeeded, Chief Master Sgt. Gregg Gow.
“This was difficult for me,” Hoy said. “I still remember how it felt when I was issued that badge upon graduating OSI training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.”
However, he didn’t carry No. 2768 for himself, he said. He carried it for the person next to him, the Department of the Air Force and the nation. That is the approach he will bring to his new badge, too.
“Today, I do the same with badge No. 9 as your 18th command chief and I am extremely proud and humbled to do so,” Hoy said. “I could not be prouder of this organization and the women and men that comprise it.”