View source for Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

{{short description|Senior enlisted member of the US Air Force}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = Chief Master Sergeant
| body                    = the United States Air Force
| native_name             = 
| insignia                = Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png
| insigniasize            = 
| insigniacaption         = Headquarters Air Force Identification Badge
| insigniaalt             =
| flag                    = Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.svg
| flagsize                = 
| flagalt                 =
| flagborder              = yes
| flagcaption             = Flag of the CMSAF<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afdw.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/334941/cmsaf-transition-ceremony/|title=CMSAF Transition Ceremony|work=afdw.af.mil|date=28 January 2013 |access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>
| image                   = CMSAF David A. Flosi.jpg
| imagesize               = 
| alt                     = 
| imagecaption            =
| incumbent               = [[David A. Flosi]]
| acting                  = 
| incumbentsince          = 8 March 2024
| department              = [[United States Air Force]]
| style                   = ''Chief''
| type                    = [[Senior enlisted advisor]]
| status                  = 
| abbreviation            = CMSAF
| member_of               = The [[Air Staff (United States)|Air Staff]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Air-Force-Senior-Leaders/|title=Air Force Senior Leaders|work=af.mil|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>
| reports_to              = [[Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force]]
| residence               = 
| seat                    = 
| nominator               = 
| appointer               = Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
| appointer_qualified     = 
| termlength              = 
| termlength_qualified    = 
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor               = 
| formation               = {{Start date and age|1967|04|03}}
| first                   = [[Paul W. Airey]]
| last                    = 
| abolished               = 
| succession              = 
| unofficial_names        = 
| deputy                  = 
| salary                  = $9,786.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/EM.html |title=Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) – effective January 1, 2023 |publisher=Defense Financing and Accounting Service |access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref>
| website                 = [https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Air-Force-Senior-Leaders/CMSAF/ Official Website]
}}

The '''chief master sergeant of the Air Force''' ([[acronym]]: '''CMSAF''') is a unique [[Non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned]] rank in the [[United States Air Force]]. The holder of this rank and position of office represents the highest [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] level of leadership in the Air Force, unless an enlisted [[airman]] is serving as the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|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 [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|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 20th chief master sergeant of the Air Force is Chief [[David A. Flosi]], who assumed the role on 8 March 2024.<ref name="lom">{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1087249/chief-master-sergeant-of-the-air-force-joanne-s-bass/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322150158/https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1087249/chief-master-sergeant-of-the-air-force-joanne-s-bass/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2025|title=Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass |publisher=United States Air Force|date=2020-08-14|access-date=2020-08-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3613442/chief-master-sgt-david-a-flosi-named-20th-chief-master-sergeant-of-the-air-force/|title=Chief Master Sgt. David A. Flosi named 20th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force|date=2023-12-11|access-date=2023-12-12|publisher=Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs|website=U.S. Air Force}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rachel |date=2023-12-11 |title=Meet David Flosi, the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/12/11/meet-david-flosi-the-next-chief-master-sergeant-of-the-air-force/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Air Force Times |language=en}}</ref>

The chief master sergeant of the Air Force is designated as a special [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades|paygrade]] above [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States#Enlisted|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2020 |title=Air Force Instruction 34-1201 |url=https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2760/SHS/2411398/afi34-1201_Protocols_Flag.pdf |access-date=27 May 2025 |website=core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com |publisher=[[United States Department of the Air Force]] |page=57}}</ref>

==Rank insignia and positional colors==
On 1 November 2004,<ref name="NewInsignia">{{cite web | url=https://www.af.mil/News/story_print/storyID/123009055/ | title=New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1 | access-date=2013-01-23 | author=Jablonski, Tech. Sgt. David A.}}</ref> 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 [[Sergeant Major of the Army|Army]] and [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2903/dafi36-2903.pdf|title=DAFI 36-2903|publisher=United States Air Force|date=2022-04-12|access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref>

The [[Sergeant Major of the Army|sergeant major of the Army]], chief master sergeant of the Air Force, [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force|chief master sergeant of the Space Force]], [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau|senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau]], and the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the chairman]] are the only members of the United States armed forces below the rank of [[brigadier general]]/[[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|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.<ref>[https://www.afdw.af.mil/News/story/id/123334084/ CMSAF Transition Ceremony] </ref>

The official term of address for the CMSAF is "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" or "Chief."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afrc.af.mil/Portals/87/documents/PDC/afh36-2618.pdf|title=AFH 36-2618 Enlisted Force Structure|publisher=United States Air Force|date=2018-07-05|access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref>
<gallery caption="CMSAF insignia timeline" width="30%" align="center">
File:E9 USAF CMSAF 1967-1991.svg|1967–1991
File:E9d USAF CMSAF old.svg|1991–2004
File:E9d USAF CMSAF.svg|2004–present
</gallery>

==List of chief master sergeants of the Air Force==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=2| Portrait
! scope="col" rowspan=2| Name
! scope="col" colspan=3| Term of office
|-
! scope="col" | Took office
! scope="col" | Left office
! scope="col" | Time in office
|-
! scope="row" | 1
|[[File:Airey pw-.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Paul W.|Airey}}
<small>(1923–2009)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1967|04|3|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1969|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1967|4|3|1969|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2
|[[File:Harlow dl.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Donald L.|Harlow}}
<small>(1920–1997)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1969|08|01|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1971|09|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1969|8|1|1971|9|30}}
|-
! scope="row" | 3
|[[File:Kisling rd3.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Richard D.|Kisling}}
<small>(1923–1985)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1971|10|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1973|09|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1971|10|1|1973|9|30}}
|-
! scope="row" | 4
|[[File:Barnes tn.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Thomas N.|Barnes}}
<small>(1930–2003)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1973|10|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1977|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1973|10|1|1977|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 5
|[[File:Gaylor rd2.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Robert|Gaylor}}
<small>(1930–2024)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1977|08|01|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1979|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1977|8|1|1979|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 6
|[[File:Mccoy jm.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|James M.|McCoy}}
<small>(1930–2022)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1979|08|01|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1981|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1979|8|1|1981|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 7
|[[File:Andrews al.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Arthur L.|Andrews}}
<small>(1934–1996)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1981|08|01|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1983|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1981|8|1|1983|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 8
|[[File:Sam E. Parish.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Sam|Parish}}
<small>(1937–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1983|08|01|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1986|06|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1983|8|1|1986|6|30}}
|-
! scope="row" | 9
|[[File:James C. Binnicker.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|James C.|Binnicker}}
<small>(1938–2015)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1986|07|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1990|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|1986|7|1|1990|7|31}}
|-
! scope="row" | 10
|[[File:Gary R. Pfingston.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Gary R.|Pfingston}}
<small>(1940–2007)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1990|08|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1994|10|25|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|August 1, 1990|October 25, 1994}}
|-
! scope="row" | 11
|[[File:David J. Campanale.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|David J.|Campanale}}
<small>(1952–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1994|10|26|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1996|11|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|October 26, 1994|November 1, 1996}}
|-
! scope="row" | 12
|[[File:Eric W. Benken.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Eric W.|Benken}}
<small>(1951–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1996|11|5|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1999|07|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|November 5, 1996|July 30, 1999}}
|-
! scope="row" | 13
|[[File:Frederick J. Finch.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Frederick J.|Finch}}
<small>(1956–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1999|07|31|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2002|06|28|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|July 31, 1999|June 28, 2002}}
|-
! scope="row" | 14
|[[File:CMSAFmurray.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Gerald R.|Murray}}
<small>(1956–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2002|07|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2006|06|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|July 1, 2002|June 30, 2006}}
|-
! scope="row" | 15
|[[File:Rodney J. McKinley.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Rodney J.|McKinley}}
<small>(1956–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2006|06|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2009|06|30|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|June 30, 2006|June 30, 2009}}
|-
! scope="row" | 16
|[[File:CMSgt James A. Roy.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|James A.|Roy}}
<small>(1964–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2009|07|1|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2013|01|24|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|July 1, 2009|January 24, 2013}}
|-
! scope="row" | 17
|[[File:CMSAF James Cody.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|James A.|Cody}}
<small>(1965–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2013|01|24|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2017|02|17|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|January 24, 2013|February 17, 2017}}
|-
! scope="row" | 18
|[[File:CMSAF Wright.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|Kaleth O.|Wright}}
<small>(1971-)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2017|02|17|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2020|08|14|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|February 17, 2017|August 14, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row" | 19
|[[File:CMSgt JoAnne S. Bass.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|JoAnne S.|Bass}}
<small>(1974-)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2020|08|14|format=dmy}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2024|03|8|format=dmy}}}}
|{{ayd|2020-08-14|2024-03-8}}
|-
! scope="row" | 20
|[[File:CMSAF David A. Flosi.jpg|100px]]
| {{sortname|David A.|Flosi}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2024|03|8|format=dmy}}}}
|Incumbent
|{{ayd|2024-03-8}}
|}

=== Timeline ===

{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:13
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1967 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1970

Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y|-5 hours}}

Colors     =
  id:cmsaf value:rgb(0,0,1) legend: CMSAF
  id:time value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

Legend     = orientation:vertical position:right

LineData =
  layer:back
  width:0.1
  color:time
  at:01/01/1970
  at:01/01/1975
  at:01/01/1980
  at:01/01/1985
  at:01/01/1990
  at:01/01/1995
  at:01/01/2000
  at:01/01/2005
  at:01/01/2010
  at:01/01/2015
  at:01/01/2020

BarData =
 barset:PM
 bar:airey
 bar:harlow
 bar:kisling
 bar:barnes
 bar:gaylor
 bar:mccoy
 bar:andrews
 bar:parish
 bar:binnicker
 bar:pfingston
 bar:campanale
 bar:benken
 bar:finch
 bar:murray
 bar:mckinley
 bar:roy
 bar:cody
 bar:wright
 bar:bass
 bar:flosi

PlotData=
  width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM
  bar:airey from:03/04/1967 till:31/07/1969 color:cmsaf text:"[[Paul W. Airey|Airey]]"
  bar:harlow from:01/08/1969 till:30/09/1971 color:cmsaf text:"[[Donald L. Harlow|Harlow]]"
  bar:kisling from:01/10/1971 till:30/09/1973 color:cmsaf text:"[[Richard D. Kisling|Kisling]]"
  bar:barnes from:01/10/1973 till:31/07/1977 color:cmsaf text:"[[Thomas N. Barnes|Barnes]]"
  bar:gaylor from:01/08/1977 till:31/07/1979 color:cmsaf text:"[[Robert Gaylor|Gaylor]]"
  bar:mccoy from:01/08/1979 till:31/07/1981 color:cmsaf text:"[[James M. McCoy|McCoy]]"
  bar:andrews from:01/08/1981 till:31/07/1983 color:cmsaf text:"[[Arthur L. Andrews|Andrews]]"
  bar:parish from:01/08/1983 till:30/06/1986 color:cmsaf text:"[[Sam Parish|Parish]]"
  bar:binnicker from:01/07/1986 till:31/07/1990 color:cmsaf text:"[[James C. Binnicker|Binnicker]]"
  bar:pfingston from:01/08/1990 till:25/10/1994 color:cmsaf text:"[[Gary R. Pfingston|Pfingston]]"
  bar:campanale from:26/10/1994 till:01/11/1996 color:cmsaf text:"[[David J. Campanale|Campanale]]"
  bar:benken from:05/11/1996 till:30/07/1999 color:cmsaf text:"[[Eric W. Benken|Benken]]"
  bar:finch from:31/07/1999 till:28/06/2002 color:cmsaf text:"[[Frederick J. Finch|Finch]]"
  bar:murray from:01/07/2002 till:30/06/2006 color:cmsaf text:"[[Gerald R. Murray|Murray]]"
  bar:mckinley from:30/06/2006 till:30/06/2009 color:cmsaf text:"[[Rodney J. McKinley|McKinley]]"
  bar:roy from:01/07/2009 till:24/01/2013 color:cmsaf text:"[[James A. Roy|Roy]]"
  bar:cody from:24/01/2013 till:17/02/2017 color:cmsaf text:"[[James A. Cody|Cody]]"
  bar:wright from:17/02/2017 till:14/08/2020 color:cmsaf text:"[[Kaleth O. Wright|Wright]]"
  bar:bass from:14/08/2020 till:08/03/2024 color:cmsaf text:"[[JoAnne S. Bass|Bass]]"
  bar:flosi from:08/03/2024 till:$now color:cmsaf text:"[[David A. Flosi|Flosi]]"
}}

==See also==
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman]]
* [[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==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chief Master Sergeants of the United States Air Force}}

{{US_enlisted_ranks}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{Senior Enlisted Advisor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief Master Sergeant Of The Air Force}}
[[Category:Chief Master Sergeants of the United States Air Force|*]]
[[Category:Senior Enlisted Advisor]]