Chief Master Sgt. David R. Wolfe is the 21st Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force and serves as the highest enlisted member of the Air Force. He is the Senior Enlisted Leader and primary adviser to both the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on standards, readiness, training, professional development, and effective utilization for more than 665,000 Total Force Airmen. Additionally, Chief Wolfe represents the service’s interests to the American public and to all levels of government.
Chief Wolfe entered the Air Force in February 1992 as a Security Forces Airman. He has extensive experience in professional military education, serving as both an instructor and commandant. During his career, he has been a Command Chief at two wings, one Numbered Air Force, and two major commands. His contingency operations experience includes tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1997 Airman Leadership School, Aviano Air Base, Italy
1999 Associate’s degree, Police Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Associate’s degree, Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Wayland Baptist University, Texas
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan
2006 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy Advanced Course, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2015 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, San Antonio, Texas
2016 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2017 Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 SUMMIT, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2018 Master of Strategic Leadership, University of Charleston, W.Va.
2019 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2020 Master of Political Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1992–April 1992, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1992–June 1992, Student, Security Forces Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. July 1992–December 1994, Flight Security Controller, 321st Missile Security Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. (December 1993–March 1994, Security Specialist, 4404th Composite Wing (Provisional), King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
4. December 1994–June 1996, United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa Elite Guardsman, USAFE Special Security Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
5. June 1996–June 1998, VIP Protection to the Commander, Air Forces Southern, Naples, Italy
6. June 1998–August 2001, Patrolman and Standardization Evaluation, 3rd Security Forces Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (May 2000–September 2000, Personal Security Officer to the Commander, 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
7. August 2001–August 2002, Noncommissioned Office in Charge, Security Forces Administration, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, 13th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
8. September 2002–February 2004, Desk Sergeant, 3rd Security Forces Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
9. February 2004–December 2007, Airman Leadership School and Noncommissioned Officer Academy Instructor, Elmendorf Professional Military Education Center, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
10. December 2007–October 2008, Flight Chief, 3rd Security Forces Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11. October 2008–March 2011, NCOIC, Operations and Superintendent, Logistics, 375th Security Forces Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill. (June 2009–December 2009, Superintendent, Entry Control Point Operations, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
12. March 2011–August 2013, Security Forces Manager, 435th Security Forces Squadron, Sembach Kaserne and Pulaski Barracks, Germany
13. August 2013–August 2014, Squadron Superintendent, 673rd SFS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
14. August 2014–February 2016, Commandant, Elmendorf Professional Military Education Center, 673rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
15. February 2016–June 2017, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
16. June 2017–July 2018, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. (August 2017–October 2017, Senior Enlisted Leader, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
17. July 2018–September 2020, Senior Enlisted Leader, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Alaskan Command, and Command Chief Master Sergeant, 11th Air Force, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
18. September 2020–February 2024, Command Chief Master Sgt., Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Field, Hawaii
19. February 2024–August 2025, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
20. December 2025–present, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Alaska Legion of Merit
Alaska Distinguished Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of December 2025)