The Air Force senior petty officer’s husband fired a warning shot, scaring an intruder who entered a military base with a weapon this week.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received in the aftermath of this incident,” Air Force Chief Sergeant JoAnne Bass said in a news release. “I can confirm that my husband, Rahn, was involved and is safe, thanks to the quick response and professionalism of our law enforcement airmen.”
Initial reports only noted that a base resident had shot the intruder, but it wasn’t until later in the week that Rahn Bass, a retired Army first sergeant, was identified as the resident. The intruder remains unidentified.
A man entered Joint Base Andrews in suburban Washington on Monday and arrived at the housing area around 11:30 a.m.
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Air Force Master Chief Seargent JoAnne Bass and her husband Rahn Bass pictured as part of a 2022 holiday message. (CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass Official Facebook Page)
Rahn Bass shot the intruder, which held him in custody until base security and law enforcement apprehended the man.
“A resident discharged a firearm, security forces arrived on scene to apprehend the intruder, and law enforcement is investigating the incident,” Joint Air Force Base Andrews said in an emailed statement to Fox News Digital. . “No injuries or property damage reported.”
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CMS JoAnne Bass is the longest-serving enlisted member of the US Air Force and has been tasked with overseeing the morale and well-being of more than 600,000 Airmen, including 263,000 active duty enlisted Soldiers. The 19th person to hold the rank, Bass, who advises the Air Force chief of staff, is the first woman to hold the position.
Air Force Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne Bass met with troops during a tour of CENTCOM AOR in January 2022, capping off a four-day tour to meet with Airmen. (CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass Official Facebook Page)
Social media users criticized the base for remaining silent for hours after the incident, the Air Force Times reported.
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Authorities have not revealed the man’s motive for entering the base, but the investigation is ongoing.
Air Force Chief Sergeant Major JoAnne Bass and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. speak before the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing in January 2022. (CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass Official Facebook Page)
The base has had a few leaks in the past two years, including a man breaking in in February 2021 gaining access to a C-40 before being caught.
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The base, which is home to the fleet of blue and white presidential planes, identified three points of security failure throughout that incident: “human error” by a gate security guard, a breach in a fence designed to restricting access to the flight line and Open Access which allows an intruder to enter and exit a parked aircraft.
Air Force Master Chief Seargent JoAnne Bass and her husband, retired Army First Ranger Rahn Bass, in a post shared to mark National Spouse Day. (CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass Official Facebook Page)
Perhaps the most egregious incident occurred in March 2022, when a 17-year-old man with a gun entered the base after ignoring orders to stop at the main gate.
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US presidents use Joint Base Andrews as their main departure point for travel, including President Biden’s weekend trips to their Delaware homes.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
