The Second Air Force is a USAF numbered air force responsible for conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and non-flying officers. In World War II the CONUS unit defended the Northwestern United States and Upper Great Plains regions and during the Cold War, was Strategic Air Command unit with strategic bombers and missiles. Elements of Second Air Force engaged in combat operations during the Korean War; Vietnam War, as well as Operation Desert Storm.
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city along the Gulf Coast in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France during the First World War. The base is home of Headquarters, Second Air Force and the 81st Training Wing of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
Air Education and Training Command (AETC) was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's nine major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force.
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.
Richard D. Kisling was a senior airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 3rd Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1971 to 1973.
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.
James M. McCoy is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force who served as the 6th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 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 senior airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 11th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1994 to 1996.
Eric W. Benken is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 12th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1996 to 1999. He was the last Vietnam War veteran to hold the position.
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.
The structure of the United States Air Force refers to the unit designators and organizational hierarchy of the United States Air Force, which starts at the most senior commands.
Ramón Colón-López is a United States Air Force pararescueman. In 2007 he was the only Hispanic American among the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal. He served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Africa Command from September 2016 to November 2019, and was selected as the 4th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman on December 13, 2019.
James A. Cody is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 17th Chief Master Sergeant 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.
Roger A. Towberman is a chief master sergeant in the United States Space Force who, since April 3, 2020, has been serving as the first chief master sergeant of the Space Force. He is the service's first enlisted member, having transferred from the United States Air Force, and the first to be appointed to its highest noncommissioned officer position. He also concurrently served as the senior enlisted advisor of the United States Space Command from July 2019 to August 28, 2020.
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 senior enlisted service member of 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 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.
