Office of CMSAF marks 40th year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The date was April 3, 1967, the Air Force wasn't 20 years old and the Department of Defense issued Release Number 274-67.

Now, a little more than 40 years since the DoD created the office of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, that moment in our history continues to evolve and become an important part of the Air Force today.

In the early 60s, there was an idea among the enlisted personnel of creating a senior-level enlisted adviser within the Air Force, so the Air Force Association's Airman Council voiced the idea in 1964, said Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar, Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute and Enlisted Heritage Hall director at Maxwell Air Force Base - Gunter Annex, Ala.

Airmen had voiced their concerns that such a position would improve communication between the rank and file and the senior Air Force leadership, but the service leaders reviewed the idea and decided not to act at that time.

In October 1966, Gen. John McConnell, Air Force chief of staff, announced the call for nominations for the position of CMSAF. There were 21 nominees forwarded to a central board for consideration. The 21 men met for the first time at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where their records were reviewed and each of them were asked 10 questions concerning the position.

Three finalists were selected and forwarded to the chief of staff in January 1967. The announcement was made Feb. 16, 1967, that Chief Paul Wesley Airey would become the first CMSAF.

"When the office was created there were many who doubted the need for it," Chief McVicar added. "However, as each chief master sergeant of the Air Force has held that position, it has grown into a well-respected position and is critical to today's enlisted force."

Prior to becoming a CMSAF, Chief Airey served during World War II as a B-24 radio operator and additional duty aerial gunner. As a technical sergeant, he became a prisoner of war after he and his fellow crewmen were captured when they were shot down over Austria.

After completing his 27-month CMSAF term, Chief Airey returned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., as a first sergeant. He is the only CMSAF to have remained on active duty after his tenure.

"The chief master sergeant of the Air Force has been responsible for the enlisted force we have today," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, 509th Bomb Wing command chief. "It's an enlisted force that is quite different than the one Chief Master Sgt. Paul Airey served with during his tenure in the Air Force."

The 15 chiefs who have held this unique position, have represented the Air Force and spoken on behalf of the enlisted members on such ssues as convincing the Air Force to accept women in nontraditional roles, civil rights, a weak military public image during Vietnam, educational progression, retention, pay, benefits, recruitment, housing, promotions, assignments, career development, launching the TRICARE health program and educating the force on the hazards of substance abuse.

"They have been the driving force behind the changes to our enlisted force from enlisted promotions to pay and entitlement benefits," Chief Hornback added. "From enlisted professional military education to even the uniform we wear today - the chief master sergeant of the Air Force has not only heard the enlisted voice but championed many of the changes that helped shape the most educated and professional enlisted men and women in the Air Force we enjoy today."

Chief McVicar elaborated further on some of the differences between the Air Force of CMSAF Paul Airey and current CMSAF Rodney McKinley.

"Airmen of today are challenged much earlier and given more responsibility," the 25-year Air Force veteran said. "I believe today's Airmen can exceed any expectation we have of them if given the opportunity - they are more educated and capable of multi-tasking from basic training, and provided they keep their drive intact and we give them opportunity, they can become and accomplish anything they set out to do."

While each CMSAF has contributed to the foundation that makes the Air Force the greatest air, space and cyberspace power in the world, they have also left their own legacy for the next CMSAF to expand.

"I know we wouldn't be the best Air Force in the world without our leaders," Chief Hornback said. "We wouldn't have the most professional enlisted force without great leaders like Chief Airey.

"I can only do eight more years before I have to retire," he added. "I'm excited to see where we'll be then and even more excited to know that I may be talking to the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force who will take our enlisted corps into the future."

Furthermore, the Airmen the CMSAFs represented have recognized their leadership and support. Many CMSAFs have had dormitories, dining facilities, academic achievement awards, Air Force Senior NCO/NCO Academies and Airman leadership schools throughout the Air Force named in their honor.

An example of how Airmen continue to recognize CMSAFs came when Chief Airey was inducted into the Gathering of Eagles program in 2006. This honor is reserved for those aviation pioneers who have contributed immensely to airpower, at Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., and was an honor previously reserved exclusively for officers.

"I would like to encourage all Airmen to read up on their heritage and history as it applies to them and their career field," Chief McVicar said. "Airmen today fill the shoes of those who have served before them - it would be a shame if we just tossed those shoes away and opted for a new pair out of convenience.

"We need to capture our history, as it happens, and feed that information to organizations such as ours at the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute and Enlisted Heritage Hall so our history can continue to serve those Airmen who have not yet served our Air Force," he added.

Although five of the former CMSAFs are deceased, the other nine retired Chiefs remain active in mentoring Airmen serving today. They continue to help shape Airmen development by serving with Air Force professional organizations, attending enlisted forums and conferences and by visiting PME classes to talk with students worldwide.

CMSAF                                                     Tenure
Paul Airey                                   April 3, 1967 - July 31, 1969
Donald Harlow                          Aug. 1, 1969 - Sept. 30, 1971
Richard Kisling                         Oct. 1, 1971- Sept. 30, 1973
Thomas Barnes                       Oct. 1, 1973 - July 31, 1977
Robert Gaylor                            Aug. 1, 1977 - July 31, 1979
James McCoy                           Aug. 1, 1979 - July 31, 1981
Arthur Andrews                         Aug. 1, 1981 - July 31, 1983
Sam Parish                               Aug. 1, 1983 - June 30, 1986
James Binnicker                      July 1, 1986 - July 31, 1990
Gary Pfingston                          Aug. 1, 1990 - Oct. 25, 1994
David Campanale                   Oct. 26, 1994 - Nov. 1, 1996
Eric Benken                              Nov. 5, 1996 - July 30, 1999
Frederick Finch                        July 31, 1999 - June 28, 2002
Gerald Murray                           July 1, 2002 - June 29, 2006
Rodney McKinley                     June 30, 2006 - Present