In this episode, we talk with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, KALETH WRIGHT, who is the highest enlisted officer in the US Air Force.

THOUGHT #1

Never Forget Where You Came From...and Always Be True to Yourself

THOUGHT #2

No One Can Fill You with Anything, if You're Already Full of Yourself. - Adaptation of Max Lucado quote

CONNECT:

BRAND & RESOURCE MENTIONS:

CMSgt KALETH WRIGHT'S BIO:

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He serves 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 more than 410,000 enlisted members. Chief Wright is the 18th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position. 

Chief Wright enlisted in the Air Force in March of 1989 and his background includes various duties in the dental career field. He served as a Professional Military Education instructor and has held various senior enlisted positions while serving at squadron, group, wing, Task-Force and Numbered Air Force levels. He has deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM and ENDURING FREEDOM and completed overseas tours in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Germany, and Alaska. 

Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. 

EDUCATION 

1993 Airman Leadership School, Pope Air Force Base, N.C. 

2000 Associates in Applied Science Degree, Dental Assisting, Community College of the Air Force 

2000 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan 

2002 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, University of Maryland 

2003 Associates in Applied Science Degree, Instructor of Technology/Military Science, CCAF 

2005 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala. 

2007 Air Force Medical Service Intermediate Executive Skills Course, Sheppard AFB 

2009 Masters in Business Administration, University of Phoenix 

2010 Master Certificate in Project Management, Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. 

2010 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala. 

2010 Professional Managers Certification, CCAF 

2012 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pa. 

2012 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course, National Defense University, by correspondence 

2013 Project Management Professional Certification, Project Management Institute, Philadelphia, Pa. 

2013 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia 

2014 Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, D.C. 

2014 AFSO21 Executive Leaders Course, University of Tennessee 2014 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 

2015 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

2016 Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 

2018 Sherpa Executive Coaching Course, Sherpa Leadership Institute, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 

2019 National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, Harvard T.H. Chan of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Center for Pubic Leadership, Cambridge, MA 

ASSIGNMENTS 

1. September 1989 – June 1994, Dental Assistant Specialist, 23rd Medical Group, Pope AFB, N.C. 

2. July 1994 – July 1995, Dental Assistant Journeyman, 51st Dental Squadron, Osan AB, Korea 

3. August 1995 – August 2001, NCOIC, Preventive Dentistry/Records and Reception/Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Dental Readiness, 18th Dental Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan 

4. August 2001 – August 2004, Flight Chief, Training/Evaluation, Kisling NCOA, Kapaun AS, Germany 

5. September 2004 – February 2007, Flight Chief, Dental Flight, 43rd ADOS, Pope AFB, N.C. 

6. February 2007 – February 2009, Superintendent, 51st Dental Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea 

7. February 2009- July 2010, Superintendent, 3rd Dental Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska 

8. July 2010 – May 2011, Superintendent, 18th Dental Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan 

9. May 2011 – May 2012, Superintendent, 18th Mission Support Group, Kadena AB, Japan 

10. May 2012 – February 2014, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan. 

11. February 2014 – December 2014, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan 

12. January 2015 – June 2016, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force, Ramstein AB, Germany 

13. June 2016 – January 2017, Command Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany 

14. February 2017 – Present, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. M

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 

Legion of Merit 

Bronze Star Medal 

Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters 

Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster 

Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster 

Air Force Recognition Ribbon with oak leaf cluster 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 

1997 18th Dental Squadron NCO of the Year 

1998 18th Dental Squadron NCO of the Year 

2000 18th Dental Squadron NCO of the Year 

2000 PACAF Outstanding Dental NCO of the Year 

2000 USAF Outstanding Dental NCO of the Year 

2000 John L. Levitow and Academic Achievement Awards, Kadena NCOA 

2005 43rd Airlift Wing and Pope AFB SNCO of the Year 

2005 AMC Outstanding Dental SNCO of the Year 

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force February 2017

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