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Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
CMSAF Wright
Incumbent
CMSAF 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 post 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 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[]

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 who 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 official term of address for the CMSAF is "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" or "Chief."[5]

Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force[]

Present
# Picture Name Tenure from Tenure to
1 Airey pw- Airey Paul W. Airey April 3, 1967 July 31, 1969
2 Harlow dl Harlow Donald L. Harlow August 1, 1969 September 30, 1971
3 Kisling rd3 Kisling Richard D. Kisling October 1, 1971 September 30, 1973
4 Barnes tn Barnes Thomas N. Barnes October 1, 1973 July 31, 1977
5 Gaylor rd2 Gaylor Robert D. Gaylor August 1, 1977 July 31, 1979
6 Mccoy jm Puckett James M. McCoy August 1, 1979 July 31, 1981
7 Andrews al Andrews Arthur L. Andrews August 1, 1981 July 31, 1983
8 Sam E. Parish Parish Sam E. Parish August 1, 1983 June 30, 1986
9 James C. Binnicker Binnicker James C. Binnicker July 1, 1986 July 31, 1990
10 Gary R. Pfingston Pfingston Gary R. Pfingston August 1, 1990 October 25, 1994
11 David J. Campanale Campanale David J. Campanale October 26, 1994 November 1, 1996
12 Eric W. Benken Benken Eric W. Benken November 5, 1996 July 30, 1999
13 Frederick J. Finch Finch Frederick J. Finch July 31, 1999 June 28, 2002
14 CMSAFmurray Murray Gerald R. Murray July 1, 2002 June 30, 2006
15 Rodney J. McKinley McKinley Rodney J. McKinley June 30, 2006 June 30, 2009
16 CMSgt James A. Roy Roy James A. Roy July 1, 2009 January 24, 2013
17 CMSAF James Cody Cody James A. Cody January 24, 2013 February 17, 2017
18 CMSAF Wright Wright Kaleth O. Wright February 17, 2017

See also[]

References[]

  1. Department of the Air Force Protocol Precedence List
  2. "CSAF Announces CMSAF #18". http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/1006034/csaf-announces-cmsaf-18.aspx. Retrieved November 16, 2016. 
  3. Jablonski, Tech. Sgt. David A.. "New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1". Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. http://archive.is/EJ5g. Retrieved January 23, 2013. 
  4. "AFI-36-2903". United States Air Force. 1 June 2012. http://www.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2903.pdf. Retrieved 25 January 2013. 
  5. "AFI-36-2618 Enlisted Force Structure". United States Air Force. 27 February 2009. http://www.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI36-2618.pdf. Retrieved 25 January 2013. 

External links[]


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The original article can be found at Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the edit history here.
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