A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who does not hold a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. In contrast, commissioned officers usually enter directly from a military academy, officer training corps (OTC) or reserve officer training corps (ROTC), or officer candidate school (OCS) or officer training school (OTS), after receiving a post-secondary degree.
Gerald R. Murray is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 14th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 2002 to 2006.
Donald L. Harlow was a senior enlisted airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 2nd Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1969 to 1971.
Thomas Nelson Barnes was an airman in the United States Air Force who served as the 4th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from October 1973 to July 1977, the first African American in that position. He was also the first African-American Senior Enlisted Advisor in any of the Armed Forces of the United States. He was key in bringing many African-American related issues to the attention of senior military leaders.
Robert D. Gaylor was an American military senior non-commissioned officer, the 5th Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force from 1977 to 1979.
James Mark McCoy was the sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, serving from 1979 to 1981.
Arthur L. "Bud" Andrews was a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force who served as the 7th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1981 to 1983.
James C. Binnicker was a senior enlisted non-commissioned officer in the United States Air Force who served as the 9th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1986 to 1990.
David J. Campanale is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force who served as the 11th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1994 to 1996.
Frederick J. "Jim" Finch is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force who served as the 13th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1999 to 2002.
Rodney J. McKinley is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 15th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 2006 to 2009.
Norman Marous is a retired Chief master sergeant who served in the United States Armed Forces in various capacities, retiring as a member of the Vandenberg Air Force Base Ceremonial Honor Guard. With 41 years of service at the time of his retirement, Marous is the longest-serving non-commissioned officer on active service in the United States Air Force.
James A. Roy is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force who served as the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from June 30, 2009, to January 24, 2013. He was previously the Senior Enlisted Leader and Advisor for United States Pacific Command.
All branches of the United States Armed Forces use the general term Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME) to describe the formal system of education which each branch provides to its enlisted personnel. Each branch has its own system and sequence of courses, with the overall focus on leadership and management. Education generally increases in intensity and level of knowledge as individuals progress in rank and assume broader leadership roles. EPME is distinct from the technical training which service members receive for their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), or Navy Rating.
James A. Cody is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 17th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 24 January 2013 until his retirement on February 17, 2017. He served as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and advancement of the enlisted force.
Kaleth O. Wright is a retired senior noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force who served as the 18th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from February 17, 2017, to August 14, 2020. In this post he served as the personal adviser to the 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. Wright is the second African American to serve in this position. Wright is often referred to by the nickname “Enlisted Jesus” by airmen on the internet due to his successful advocacy and reforms on behalf of enlisted personnel.
John F. Bentivegna is a United States Space Force chief master sergeant who serves as the second and current chief master sergeant of the United States Space Force. He previously served as the senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear and senior enlisted leader of Space Operations Command.
JoAnne S. Bass is a senior noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force and the nineteenth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. She became the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and the first female to hold the highest senior enlisted rank in any United States military branch, on August 14, 2020, having been selected for the position on June 19. She is also the first person of Asian-American descent to hold the highest senior enlisted position in the Air Force. At the time of her selection, she was the Second Air Force's Command Chief Master Sergeant at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, which she had reported to in July 2018. Air Force News reported "incoming Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said Bass brings skills, temperament and experience that the job requires and an outlook on leadership that meshes with his own", and that he "could not be more excited to work side-by-side with Chief Bass."
Tony L. Whitehead is a senior noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force and the sixth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He succeeded Army CSM Christopher S. Kepner on 25 August 2020, and is the first senior enlisted advisor of the NGB to wear a unique rank insignia. At the time of his selection, he was the Command Chief Master Sergeant, CONR-1 AF (AFNORTH), Tyndall AFB, Florida.
David A. Flosi is a Chief Master Sergeant in the US Air Force, and is designate to become the twentieth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, taking over from CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass.
