Chief Master Sergeant James M. Wilfong is the Command Chief for Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. As the command chief, he is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander on all matters affecting the readiness, training, professional development, and effective utilization of all assigned and attached personnel. Additionally, he coordinates with the headquarters staff, commanders, and senior personnel on the development and implementation of command policy and direction. As the air component senior enlisted leader to both Ninth Air Force and Air Forces Central, he champions and directs enlisted efforts in direct support of for air operations (unilaterally or in concert with coalition partners) and the development of contingency plans in support of national objectives for USCENTCOM's 21-nation area of responsibility in the Arabian Peninsula and Central and South Asia.
Chief Wilfong entered the Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist. He has performed a myriad of leadership roles, both deployed and home station at the squadron, group, and wing levels. Chief Wilfong deployed six times in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. His assignments include bases in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, and Montana. Prior to assuming his current position, he was the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale, Air Force Base, Louisiana.
EDUCATION
1995 Security Police Academy, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
1995 Air Base Ground Defense Course, Fort Dix, N.J.
2000 Airman Leadership School, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2003 Principles of Instruction, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2004 Army Ranger School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2005 Close Precision Engagement Course (Sniper), Camp Robinson, Ark.
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2009 Army Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2011 Associate degree in Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2014 Security Forces Advanced Officer Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2014 Integrated Defense Command & Control Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2015 Army National Guard Air Assault School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2018 Professional Manager's Certificate, Community College of the Air Force, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Air Force Chief Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2019 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management (Magna Cum Laude), Ashford University
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Transnational Issues Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2022 Space Executive Course, National Security Space Institute, Peterson SFB, Colorado
2022 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associate, Washington D.C.
2023 Senior Leader Nuclear Management (Nuclear 400), Air Force Nuclear College, Kirtland AFB, NM
2023 Keystone, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
2024 Latin America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associate, Washington D.C.
2025 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associate, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- March 1995 - September 2002, Desk Sergeant/Patrolman, 88th Security Forces Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (August - December 1997, Fire Team Member, 4409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Eskan, Saudi Arabia) (August - December 1998, Fire Team Leader, 4409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Eskan, Saudi Arabia) (September 2001 - March 2002, Fire Team Leader, 405th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Thumrait, Oman)
- September 2002 - October 2006, Ground Combat Skills Instructor/NCOIC Leadership Course/NCOIC Designated Marksman, 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- October 2006 - July 2010, NCOIC Intelligence/Squad Leader/NCOIC Supply & Logistics, 822d Security Forces, Moody AFB, Ga. (May - November 2007, NCOIC Intelligence, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq) (March - October 2008, Squad Leader, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq) (June - December 2009, NCOIC Logistics, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
- January 2017 - January 2018, Security Forces Manager, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
- January 2017 - January 2018, Security Forces Manager, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
- January 2018 - October 2018, Security Forces Manager, 341st Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
- October 2018 - February 2020, Group Superintendent, 820th Base Defense Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
- February 2020 - June 2022, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 23d Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.
- June 2022 - June 2024, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
- June 2024 - Current Command Chief, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Iraq Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and "N" device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Army Ranger School Graduate
2005 Distinguished Graduate, NCO Academy
2005 Group NCO of the Year, 96th Mission Support Group
2005 MAJCOM Security Forces Staff Support NCO of the Year, AFMC
2009 Group Security Forces Staff Support NCO of the Year, 820th Security Forces Group
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant January 1, 2018
(Current as of May 26)