Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody represented the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provided direction for the enlisted force and represented their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. He served as the personal adviser to the 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 Cody is the 17th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position.
Chief Cody entered the Air Force in November 1984. He graduated from the air traffic control specialist course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in May 1985. His background includes various duties in air traffic control at the unit and major-command levels. Throughout his career, he filled a myriad of roles including additional-duty First Sergeant and Directorate Superintendent. His assignments included bases in New Hampshire, California, Virginia and Florida. The chief also served overseas in Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1987 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
1989 Air Force Communications Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
1993 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
1995 USAFE Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun AS, Germany
1997 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
1998 Associate of Applied Science, Airway Science, Community College of the Air Force
2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Chief's Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 USAF Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, Calif.
2006 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pa.
2008 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2008 AFSO 21 Executive Leadership Course, Disney Institute, Orlando, Fla.
2009 Keystone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2010 COMAFFOR Senior Staff Course, USAF Expeditionary Center, N.J.
2010 USAF Enterprise Management Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
2012 Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, Trident University International, Cypress, Calif.
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1984–January 1985, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1985–June 1985, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. June 1985–June 1988, Air Traffic Controller, 1964th Communications Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. June 1988–January 1991, ATC Watch Supervisor, 1916th Communications Squadron, Pease AFB, N.H.
5. January 1991–May 1993, ATC Watch Supervisor, 30th Operational Support Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
6. May 1993–May 1994, ATC Watch Supervisor, 51st OSS, Osan AB, South Korea
7. June 1994–June 1996, Superintendent, Airfield Operations Training, 39th OSS, Incirlik AB, Turkey
8. June 1996–March 2000, Superintendent, Airfield Operations, Readiness/Training, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
9. March 2000–May 2003, Chief Tower Controller, additional duty 1st Sgt, 6th OSS, MacDill AFB, Fla. (April 2002 - July 2002, Superintendent, Combat Airspace Management Cell, Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
10. June 2003–July 2005, Superintendent, Directorate of Air and Space Operations and ATC Functional Manager, HQ ACC, Langley AFB, Va.
11. July 2005–August 2007, Command Chief, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Travis AFB, Calif.
12. August 2007–July 2008, Command Chief, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13. July 2008–September 2010, Command Chief, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. September 2010–January 2013, Command Chief, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
15. January 2013–February 2017, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 39th Wing NCO of the Year
1995 John L. Levitow Award, NCO Academy
1995 USAFE ATC Training Achievement Award
1995 STEP promotion to Master Sergeant
1997 ACC Director of Air and Space Operations SNCO of the Year
2001 Distinguished Graduate, SNCO Academy
2001 AMC Air Traffic Control Enlisted Manager of the Year
2001 Tampa Bay Military Citizen of the Year
2001 Air Mobility Command SNCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, January 2013
(Current as of September 2025)