Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

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.

Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force
Flag of the CMSAF[1]
Incumbent
JoAnne S. Bass
since August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
United States Air Force
StyleChief
TypeAdvisor
AbbreviationCMSAF
Member ofThe Air Staff[2]
Reports toChief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
AppointerChief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
FormationApril 3, 1967 (1967-04-03)
First holderPaul W. Airey
Salary$8,844.30 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity[3]
WebsiteOfficial Website

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 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 Tenure from Tenure to Tenure length
1 Airey Paul W. Airey April 3, 1967 July 31, 1969 2 years, 119 days
2 Harlow Donald L. Harlow August 1, 1969 September 30, 1971 2 years, 60 days
3 Kisling Richard D. Kisling October 1, 1971 September 30, 1973 1 year, 364 days
4 Barnes Thomas N. Barnes October 1, 1973 July 31, 1977 3 years, 303 days
5 Gaylor Robert D. Gaylor August 1, 1977 July 31, 1979 1 year, 364 days
6 Puckett James M. McCoy August 1, 1979 July 31, 1981 1 year, 364 days
7 Andrews Arthur L. Andrews August 1, 1981 July 31, 1983 1 year, 364 days
8 Parish Sam E. Parish August 1, 1983 June 30, 1986 2 years, 333 days
9 Binnicker James C. Binnicker July 1, 1986 July 31, 1990 4 years, 30 days
10 Pfingston Gary R. Pfingston August 1, 1990 October 25, 1994 4 years, 85 days
11 Campanale David J. Campanale October 26, 1994 November 1, 1996 2 years, 6 days
12 Benken Eric W. Benken November 5, 1996 July 30, 1999 2 years, 267 days
13 Finch Frederick J. Finch July 31, 1999 June 28, 2002 2 years, 332 days
14 Murray Gerald R. Murray July 1, 2002 June 30, 2006 3 years, 364 days
15 McKinley Rodney J. McKinley June 30, 2006 June 30, 2009 3 years, 0 days
16 Roy James A. Roy July 1, 2009 January 24, 2013 3 years, 207 days
17 Cody James A. Cody January 24, 2013 February 17, 2017 4 years, 24 days
18 Wright Kaleth O. Wright February 17, 2017 August 14, 2020 3 years, 179 days
19 Bass JoAnne S. Bass August 14, 2020 Incumbent 172 days

See also

References
  1. "CMSAF Transition Ceremony". afdw.af.mil. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  2. "Air Force Senior Leaders". af.mil. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  3. "Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) – effective January 1, 2020". Defense Financing and Accounting Service. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  4. "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass". United States Air Force. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. https://www.mortuary.af.mil/Portals/31/AFI%2034-1201%2C%20Protocol.pdf
  6. Jablonski, Tech. Sgt. David A. "New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1". Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  7. "AFI-36-2903" (PDF). United States Air Force. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  8. CMSAF Transition Ceremony Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "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.
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