MANSFIELD, Ohio—Chief Master Sgts. Todd and Wendy Hunt probably passed each other in the hallways at Madison High School where they went to school. They may have attended the same social events around town, since they both grew up in Mansfield. But it wasn’t until they both joined the Ohio Air National Guard that they became acquainted with each other and formed a relationship that would eventually mature into a marriage.
The Hunts serve at the 179th Airlift Wing where they have worked as full-time personnel for over 20 years. Todd Hunt is the Operations Group superintendent and Wendy Hunt is the Force Support Squadron superintendent.
Obtaining the rank of chief master sergeant is quite the accomplishment—only about 17 people at the 179th and the 200th RED HORSE squadron combined have this rank. Wendy Hunt was the second female at the base, and possibly the state, to have become a chief master sergeant, which she achieved in 2003. Todd Hunt rose to that rank in 2009.
Todd Hunt joined the Guard in 1984 and Wendy Hunt joined two years later. They agreed that the tuition assistance the Guard offers for college courses was a big draw for them. Todd Hunt attended The Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management, and Wendy Hunt earned a bachelor’s in business administration and an associate’s in human resources management from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
After enlisting, they both initially served in Security Forces; however, they didn’t officially meet until an annual training trip held in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1987.
And on Nov. 18, 1989, the two wed.
Wendy Hunt admitted that they weren’t close in high school. “I actually had a friend that had a crush on him, so I knew a little but more about him than he knew about me,” she said.
Throughout their careers at the 179th, they have never worked full time in the same building, Todd Hunt noted.
“There are probably people out here who may not even know the connection because we drive to work separately; we have separate schedules. But I can say the one good thing about being out here together, with him being in charge of operations and me being in charge of personnel, we can collaborate on a lot of things together and make things happen. It works out well,” said Wendy Hunt.
Todd Hunt agreed, noting, “There are times working down in Ops that I have questions about the personnel side, or some of our guys are getting ready to deploy and it’s nice because I kind of have an inside.”
One of Wendy Hunt’s main tasks as a member of the Force Support Squadron is to help airmen prepare for deployment. She noted, “I think one of the big things that has been good for us as a military family is my job has pretty much kept me stateside.”
Conversely, Todd Hunt deploys often, she said. “And it’s really hard when your family member deploys. But I think it’s good that I understand how that works because I can help some of the families and the spouses here on base and give them support,” she noted.
Todd and Wendy Hunt have a son, Andrew, who is currently studying at St. Francis University.
They live in Lexington and said they plan to stay in the area after retirement.
Reflecting upon their careers at the 179th, Wendy Hunt commented, “This has been a good place to be and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else other than this unit,” she said. And though they don’t work side-by-side on a daily basis, by sharing that military background, it has made them stronger as a couple, Wendy Hunt believes, because “we understand each other,” she said.
