Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Incumbent: Chief Master Sergeant James A. Roy since: June 30, 2009
First	Paul W. Airey
Formation	April 3, 1967
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 James A. Roy. He is the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force in the history of the U.S. Air Force.

On November 1, 2004, 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. When the Air Force converted to the current business-cut uniform, the ring was removed from enlisted collar brass, making it identical to that of commissioned officers. The CMSAF, however, retained the special wreathed version.

The CMSAF 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.

All Chief Master Sergeants, including the CMSAF, may also be referred to as "Chief".

• CMSAF rank insignia
• 

  1967 – 1991

• 

  1991 – Oct 2004

• 

  2004 - present

Chief Master Sergeants

#	Picture	Name	Tenure from	Tenure to
1		Airey Paul W. Airey	01967-04-03 April 3, 1967	01969-07-31 July 31, 1969
2		Harlow Donald L. Harlow	01969-08-01 August 1, 1969	01971-09-30 September 30, 1971
3		Kisling Richard D. Kisling	01971-10-01 October 1, 1971	01973-09-30 September 30, 1973
4		Barnes Thomas N. Barnes	01973-10-01 October 1, 1973	01977-07-31 July 31, 1977
5		Gaylor Robert D. Gaylor	01977-08-01 August 1, 1977	01979-07-31 July 31, 1979
6		Puckett James M. McCoy	01979-08-01 August 1, 1979	01981-07-31 July 31, 1981
7		Andrews Arthur L. Andrews	01981-08-01 August 1, 1981	01983-07-31 July 31, 1983
8		Parish Sam E. Parish	01983-08-01 August 1, 1983	01986-06-30 June 30, 1986
9		Binnicker James C. Binnicker	01986-07-01 July 1, 1986	01990-07-31 July 31, 1990
10		Pfingston Gary R. Pfingston	01990-08-01 August 1, 1990	01994-10-25 October 25, 1994
11		Campanale David J. Campanale	01994-10-26 October 26, 1994	01996-11-01 November 1, 1996
12		Benken Eric W. Benken	01996-11-05 November 5, 1996	01999-07-30 July 30, 1999
13		Finch Frederick J. Finch	01999-07-31 July 31, 1999	02002-06-28 June 28, 2002
14		Murray Gerald R. Murray	02002-07-01 July 1, 2002	02006-06-30 June 30, 2006
15		McKinley Rodney J. McKinley	02006-06-01 June 1, 2006	02009-06-30 June 30, 2009
16		Roy James A. Roy	02009-07-01 July 1, 2009	present

See also

United States Air Force portal

• Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Sergeant Major of the Army
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
• United States Military Pay
• Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer - The UK equivalent

References

1. ^ Department of the Air Force Protocol Precedence List

--

External links

• Air Force Print News: New CMSAF insignia debuts 1 Nov 2004