Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force | |
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![]() Flag of the CMSAF[1] | |
United States Air Force | |
Style | Chief |
Type | Senior enlisted advisor |
Abbreviation | CMSAF |
Member of | The Air Staff[2] |
Reports to | Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force |
Appointer | Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force |
Formation | April 3, 1967 |
First holder | Paul W. Airey |
Salary | $9,109.50 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity[3] |
Website | Official Website |
The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (acronym: 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, unless an enlisted airman is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman. The CMSAF 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.
The current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is Chief JoAnne S. Bass (/bæs/). On August 14, 2020, Chief Bass succeeded Chief Kaleth O. Wright, to become the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.[4]
Although the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a non-commissioned officer, protocol states that the CMSAF has precedence over all lieutenant generals at joint events, and over all lieutenant generals except the Air Force Director of Staff at Air Force exclusive events.[5]
Rank insignia and positional colors[]
On November 1, 2004,[6] 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.[7]
The Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space 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). The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force colors were authorized in January 2013.[8]
The official term of address for the CMSAF is "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" or "Chief."[9]
- CMSAF insignia timeline
1967–1991
1991–2004
2004-present
Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force[]
No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
1 | ![]() |
Paul W. Airey | April 3, 1967 | July 31, 1969 | 2 years, 119 days |
2 | ![]() |
Donald L. Harlow | August 1, 1969 | September 30, 1971 | 2 years, 60 days |
3 | ![]() |
Richard D. Kisling | October 1, 1971 | September 30, 1973 | 1 year, 364 days |
4 | ![]() |
Thomas N. Barnes | October 1, 1973 | July 31, 1977 | 3 years, 303 days |
5 | ![]() |
Robert D. Gaylor | August 1, 1977 | July 31, 1979 | 1 year, 364 days |
6 | ![]() |
James M. McCoy | August 1, 1979 | July 31, 1981 | 1 year, 364 days |
7 | ![]() |
Arthur L. Andrews | August 1, 1981 | July 31, 1983 | 1 year, 364 days |
8 | ![]() |
Sam E. Parish | August 1, 1983 | June 30, 1986 | 2 years, 333 days |
9 | ![]() |
James C. Binnicker | July 1, 1986 | July 31, 1990 | 4 years, 30 days |
10 | ![]() |
Gary R. Pfingston | August 1, 1990 | October 25, 1994 | 4 years, 85 days |
11 | ![]() |
David J. Campanale | October 26, 1994 | November 1, 1996 | 2 years, 6 days |
12 | ![]() |
Eric W. Benken | November 5, 1996 | July 30, 1999 | 2 years, 267 days |
13 | ![]() |
Frederick J. Finch | July 31, 1999 | June 28, 2002 | 2 years, 332 days |
14 | ![]() |
Gerald R. Murray | July 1, 2002 | June 30, 2006 | 3 years, 364 days |
15 | ![]() |
Rodney J. McKinley | June 30, 2006 | June 30, 2009 | 3 years, 0 days |
16 | ![]() |
James A. Roy | July 1, 2009 | January 24, 2013 | 3 years, 207 days |
17 | ![]() |
James A. Cody | January 24, 2013 | February 17, 2017 | 4 years, 24 days |
18 | ![]() |
Kaleth O. Wright | February 17, 2017 | August 14, 2020 | 3 years, 179 days |
19 | ![]() |
JoAnne S. Bass | August 14, 2020 | Incumbent | 1 year, 40 days |
See also[]
- Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Sergeant Major of the Army
- Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
- Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau
References[]
- ^ "CMSAF Transition Ceremony". afdw.af.mil. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force Senior Leaders". af.mil. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ "Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) – effective January 1, 2020". Defense Financing and Accounting Service. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass". United States Air Force. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ https://www.mortuary.af.mil/Portals/31/AFI%2034-1201%2C%20Protocol.pdf
- ^ Jablonski, Tech. Sgt. David A. "New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1". Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "AFI-36-2903" (PDF). United States Air Force. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ CMSAF Transition Ceremony Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "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.
External links[]
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