Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force
Incumbent
Kaleth O. Wright
since February 17, 2017
Formation April 3, 1967
First holder Paul W. Airey
Website Official Website

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and position of office represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. The one exception to the status of the CMSAF as the highest-ranking enlisted member of the Air Force, which has yet to occur, is when an Air Force chief is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this instance, the SEAC would outrank the CMSAF. The CMSAF is appointed by the Air Force Chief of Staff (AF/CC) and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force. While the CMSAF is a non-commissioned officer, the billet is protocol equivalent to a lieutenant general.[1]

The current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is Chief Kaleth O. Wright. On February 17, 2017, Chief Kaleth O. Wright succeeded Chief James A. Cody, to become the 18th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.[2]

Rank Insignia and Positional Colors

On November 1, 2004,[3] the CMSAF's rank insignia was updated to include the Great Seal of the United States of America and two stars in the upper field. This puts the insignia in line with those of the Army and Marine Corps which have similar insignia to denote their senior enlisted servicemen. The laurel wreath around the star in the lower field remained unchanged, to retain the legacy of the Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force.

The CMSAF wears distinctive collar insignia. Traditionally, enlisted airmen's collar insignia was silver-colored "U.S." within a ring. The CMSAF's collar brass replaced the standard ring with a silver laurel wreath. The CMSAF also wears a distinctive cap device. Enlisted airmen's cap device is the Coat of Arms of the United States, surrounded by a ring, all struck from silver-colored metal. Much as with the position's distinctive collar brass, the ring is replaced with a laurel wreath for the CMSAF. The Sergeant Major of the Army wears an identical cap device, albeit of gold-colored metal.[4]

The Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman are the only members of the United States armed forces below the rank of brigadier general/rear admiral, lower half to be authorized a positional color (flag). First considered in 1992,[5] the SMA's color has been authorized since 22 March 1999.[6] The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force colors were authorized in January 2013.[7]

The official term of address for the CMSAF is "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" or "Chief."[8]

Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force

# Picture Name Tenure from Tenure to
1 Paul W. Airey April 3, 1967 July 31, 1969
2 Donald L. Harlow August 1, 1969 September 30, 1971
3 Richard D. Kisling October 1, 1971 September 30, 1973
4 Thomas N. Barnes October 1, 1973 July 31, 1977
5 Robert D. Gaylor August 1, 1977 July 31, 1979
6 James M. McCoy August 1, 1979 July 31, 1981
7 Arthur L. Andrews August 1, 1981 July 31, 1983
8 Sam E. Parish August 1, 1983 June 30, 1986
9 James C. Binnicker July 1, 1986 July 31, 1990
10 Gary R. Pfingston August 1, 1990 October 25, 1994
11 David J. Campanale October 26, 1994 November 1, 1996
12 Eric W. Benken November 5, 1996 July 30, 1999
13 Frederick J. Finch July 31, 1999 June 28, 2002
14 Gerald R. Murray July 1, 2002 June 30, 2006
15 Rodney J. McKinley June 30, 2006 June 30, 2009
16 James A. Roy July 1, 2009 January 24, 2013
17 James A. Cody January 24, 2013 February 17, 2017
18 Kaleth O. Wright February 17, 2017 Incumbent

See also

References

  1. ↑ Department of the Air Force Protocol Precedence List
  2. ↑ "CSAF Announces CMSAF #18". Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ Jablonski, Tech. Sgt. David A. "New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1". Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ "AFI-36-2903" (PDF). United States Air Force. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Elder, p. 40.
  6. ↑ U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2013-11-18. .
  7. ↑ CMSAF Transition Ceremony Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "AFI-36-2618 Enlisted Force Structure" (PDF). United States Air Force. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
United States enlisted ranks
Pay grade →
Branch of service ↓		 E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Army
 PVT
PV2
PFC		  
SPC – CPL
SGT
SSG
SFC		  
MSG – 1SG		   
SGM – CSM – SMA
Marine Corps
 Pvt
PFC
LCpl
Cpl
Sgt
SSgt
GySgt		  
MSgt – 1stSgt		   
MGySgt – SgtMaj – SgtMajMarCor
Navy
 SR
SA
SN
PO3
PO2
PO1
CPO		  
SCPO – CMDCS		    
MCPO – CMDCM – FORCM, FLTCM – MCPON
Air Force
 AB
Amn
A1C
SrA
SSgt
TSgt		  
MSgt – 1st Sgt		  
SMSgt – 1st Sgt		    
CMSgt – 1st Sgt – CCM – CMSAF
Coast Guard
SR

SA

SN
PO3
PO2
PO1
CPO
SCPO		    
MCPO – CMC – Area CMC, CGRF-CMC – MCPOCG
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