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 | |
|---|---|
 Headquarters Air Force Identification Badge | |
 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 | 3 April 1967 |
| First holder | Paul W. Airey |
| Salary | $9,786.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity[3] |
| Website | Official Website |
The current 20th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is Chief David A. Flosi, who assumed the role on 8 March 2024.[4][5][6]
The chief master sergeant of the Air Force is designated as a special paygrade above E-9, and although the CMSAF 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.[7]
Rank insignia and positional colors
On 1 November 2004,[8] the CMSAF's rank insignia was updated to include the Great Seal of the United States 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.[9]
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.[10]
The official term of address for the CMSAF is "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" or "Chief."[11]
- CMSAF insignia timeline
1967–1991
1991–2004
2004–present
List of chief master sergeants of the Air Force
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 1 |  | Paul W. Airey (1923–2009) | 3 April 1967 | 31 July 1969 | 2 years, 119 days |
| 2 |  | Donald L. Harlow (1920–1997) | 1 August 1969 | 30 September 1971 | 2 years, 60 days |
| 3 |  | Richard D. Kisling (1923–1985) | 1 October 1971 | 30 September 1973 | 1 year, 364 days |
| 4 |  | Thomas N. Barnes (1930–2003) | 1 October 1973 | 31 July 1977 | 3 years, 303 days |
| 5 |  | Robert Gaylor (1930–2024) | 1 August 1977 | 31 July 1979 | 1 year, 364 days |
| 6 |  | James M. McCoy (1930–2022) | 1 August 1979 | 31 July 1981 | 1 year, 364 days |
| 7 |  | Arthur L. Andrews (1934–1996) | 1 August 1981 | 31 July 1983 | 1 year, 364 days |
| 8 |  | Sam Parish (1937–) | 1 August 1983 | 30 June 1986 | 2 years, 333 days |
| 9 |  | James C. Binnicker (1938–2015) | 1 July 1986 | 31 July 1990 | 4 years, 30 days |
| 10 |  | Gary R. Pfingston (1940–2007) | 1 August 1990 | 25 October 1994 | 4 years, 85 days |
| 11 |  | David J. Campanale (1952–) | 26 October 1994 | 1 November 1996 | 2 years, 6 days |
| 12 |  | Eric W. Benken (1951–) | 5 November 1996 | 30 July 1999 | 2 years, 267 days |
| 13 |  | Frederick J. Finch (1956–) | 31 July 1999 | 28 June 2002 | 2 years, 332 days |
| 14 |  | Gerald R. Murray (1956–) | 1 July 2002 | 30 June 2006 | 3 years, 364 days |
| 15 |  | Rodney J. McKinley (1956–) | 30 June 2006 | 30 June 2009 | 3 years, 0 days |
| 16 |  | James A. Roy (1964–) | 1 July 2009 | 24 January 2013 | 3 years, 207 days |
| 17 |  | James A. Cody (1965–) | 24 January 2013 | 17 February 2017 | 4 years, 24 days |
| 18 |  | Kaleth O. Wright (1971-) | 17 February 2017 | 14 August 2020 | 3 years, 179 days |
| 19 |  | JoAnne S. Bass (1974-) | August 14, 2020 | March 8, 2024 | 3 years, 207 days |
| 20 |  | David A. Flosi | March 8, 2024 | Incumbent | 98 days |
Timeline
See also
References
External links
