In his youth, the thrill of street racing once landed Chad Marbut in trouble, but the Weatherford Assistant City Manager channeled that “need for speed” by joining the U.S. Air Force.
Now a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he serves as the Installation and Mission Support Center for Pacific Air Forces Command, Marbut said he was heading down the wrong path all those years ago and getting caught was the “best thing” to happen.
“It was the wake-up call that I needed,” he admitted. “I turned 18 in the summer and was in bootcamp by November.”
Joining the military, particularly the Air Force, wasn’t exactly a foreign idea when Marbut made that choice. His grandfather, a large role model in his life, was a U.S.A.F. senior master sergeant. and Marbut and his brother spent many summers with him when he lived near Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla.
“He would take us on base to get flat-top haircuts and look at the jets,” Marbut said. “It was a full-circle moment when both my brother and I were able to spend time with him after we joined years later knowing he was the reason.”
That core relationship stayed strong up until his grandfather became ill and eventually passed away. Marbut was in Officer Training School and could not make it back in time to see him.
“I was able to get on a video call with him, and he told me to finish [instead of heading to Florida],” Marbut said. “That call gave me the motivation to kick [butt], and I ended up a Distinguished Graduate [equal to the top 10 percent] of that graduation class.”
Marbut joined the Reserves after being active for five years instead of six as part of an early reassignment. In his years of service, Marbut was a crew chief for F-15s and F-16s before he was promoted to tech sergeant. He was then deployed to Afghanistan at the end of 2013 and was responsible for ensuring jets were prepared for takeoff and properly returned to service upon landing at Kandahar Airfield.
“It was very rewarding to see those jet come back,” he said.
One of his fondest memories, however, had more to do with his homecoming than those jets. Marbut said his wife Lisa’s family usually gathers for Christmas, and he was scheduled to be back in the U.S., but it wasn’t going to be until after the holiday. Once he made it back on U.S. soil, he worked to get his civilian flights rerouted and made it back Christmas morning with only his father being the wiser.
“It was a special moment when I walked in the door,” he smiled. “I’ll never forget it.”
Marbut began his career in Weatherford in 2015 as a capital projects engineer and moved up to director of public works in 2022. He has an extensive background in infrastructure design and construction, public/private partnership coordination and departmental coordination on capital improvements. He even had his hand in designing and drafting plans for Sundance Square in Fort Worth.
Marbut said his military and civilian careers have mirrored and complemented each other in many ways. Marbut has regularly been promoted in both his careers, and it’s a source of pride for him.
“Leading a squadron aligns with my role here in that you have a lot of the same disciplines and situations,” he said. “As second in command [in the service] you have to know policies and procedures and people, and it’s the same here at the city.”
When Marbut was promoted to assistant, Weatherford City Manager James Hotopp said his “dedication and experience have been key” to the city’s success.
The City of Weatherford has often been recognized for its support of employees who are either in the National Guard and Reserves by receiving the Patriot Awards for both the city and fire department. About 10 percent of Weatherford’s overall workforce has both active Guard and Reserve members, as well as veterans. Marbut said that support is critical.
“It’s extremely beneficial,” he said. “Knowing that you have your employer willing to allow you to have time off to do this, it’s a blessing.”
After receiving the award, Hotopp praised the veterans and active military members.
“We could not do what we do without the employees who are actively serving, as well as the veterans throughout our organization,” Hotopp said in a press release. “That commitment is part of what makes Weatherford so special.”
In September 2023, when Marbut had the choice of location to celebrate his commissioning as a major, he chose Chandor Gardens so the people who supported him through the years would be able to celebrate with him.
“It was a huge showing; I had no idea that many people would come out,” he said. “But I wouldn’t be where I am without many of them, so I am glad I was able to share that moment with everyone.”
Working for the Installation and Mission Support Center for Pacific Air Forces Command, Marbut goes out to Hawaii a couple of times a year. He said he takes his time there seriously, no matter how glamorous it may sound.
Of all the things he misses about those earlier days, Marbut admits that it goes back to where he started.
“I miss being on the flight line and the jets,” he said while noting that the F-15 still has his heart. “I was able to fly in one once and it was an experience I would never have imagined.”
Marbut said if he could tell his younger self where his life would end up, he would never have believed it.
“I’ve gotten so much more out of the military than I’ve ever given to it,” he said. “It’s a blessing to have it be a part of my life and career.”
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