Chief Master Sergeant Charles W. Smith is the Command Chief of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard, Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi. Chief Smith is responsible for reviewing promotion, retention, and assignment policy affecting over 800 wing enlisted personnel; acting as the functional manager and administrator for all wing first sergeants; monitoring Professional Military Education participation and encouraging timely enrollment and completion; and identifying issues affecting wing enlisted personnel and recommending action directly to the wing commander. Chief Smith also serves as the 153rd Air Refueling Squadron Inflight Refueling Program Manager.
Chief Master Sergeant Smith was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard on March 8, 1979. After completion of a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi State University in December 1983, Chief Smith was hired as an Electronic Warfare Technician with the 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in October 1984. Upon unit conversion to the KC-135R, Chief Smith trained as an Inflight Refueling Specialist at Castle Air Force Base, California in December 1991. In October 1993 he returned to Castle Air Force Base to complete the Central Flight Instructor Course, and was assigned as the Wing Standards and Evaluations Inflight Refueling Senior Evaluator in December 1993. Chief Smith has also worked as a Wing Scheduler, Current Operations Planner, and Chief Enlisted Inflight Refueling instructor in the 153rd Air Refueling Squadron Training Flight. He has participated in Operations ICELAND ALERT, DENY FLIGHT, ALLIED FORCE, JOINT GUARD, NORTHERN WATCH, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and PROJECT LIBERTY. In 2009, while continuing to maintain mission ready qualification in the KC-135R, Chief Smith was instrumental in standing up the Air Force's initial MC-12 Manned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance training squadron at Key Field as an instructor sensor operator. He continued to instruct in both the KC-135R and MC-12W until both aircraft departed Key Field in 2011. Upon unit conversion to the C-27J aircraft, Chief Smith completed Initial and Instructor Loadmaster Qualification training at Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia in August 2011. He maintained Mission ready status in the C-27J until the unit again converted to the KC-135R in October 2013, at which time Chief Smith re-qualified as an inflight refueler in the KC-135R.
EDUCATION
1980 Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
1981 Noncommissioned Officer Orientation Course, Non-Residence
1983 Bachelor of Science in Landscape Contracting, Mississippi State University
1985 Supervisory Development Course, Non-Residence
1986 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
1992 Combat Crew Training Course, KC-135, Castle Air Force Base, California
1992 Combat Survival Training Course, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington
1992 Water Survival, Non-Parachuting Course, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington
1993 Central flight Instructor Course Inflight Refueling Operator, Castle Air Force base, California
2005 United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
2009 MC-12W Initial Sensor Operator Course, Reno Air National Guard Base, Nevada
2010 Basic Loadmaster Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2011 C-27J Initial Loadmaster Course, Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia
2011 C-27J Instructor Loadmaster Course, Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia
2012 Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course, Fort Lee, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
March 1979 - December 1991, 186th Tactical reconnaissance Group, Electronic Warfare Specialist
January 1992 - May 2011, 186th Air Refueling Wing, KC-135R In-flight Refueling Instructor
July 2009 - May 2011, MC-12 Sensor Operator Instructor
May 2011 - October 2012, 186th Operations Group, C-27J Loadmaster
October 2012 - October 2013, 186th Air Refueling Wing, C-27J Loadmaster Program Manager
October 2013 - Present, 186th Air Refueling Wing, KC-135R inflight Refueling Program Manager
February 2014 - Present, 186th Air Refueling Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal, 5 devices
Aerial Achievement Medal, 3 devices
Air Force Commendation Medal, 1 device
Air Force Achievement Medal, 2 devices
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 2 devices
Combat Readiness Medal, 3 devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, 9 devices
National Defense Service Medal, 1 device
Kosovo Campaign Medal, 2 devices
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal, 1 device
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short, 1 device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, 1 device
Air Force Longevity Service, 4 devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, 2 devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air Force Training Ribbon
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Mississippi Magnolia Medal
Mississippi Medal of Efficiency
Mississippi War Medal, 1 device
Mississippi Emergency Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Air Force Sergeants Association
Air Force Association
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Life Member
Mississippi Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Life Member
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Instructor: KC-135R Inflight Refueler, C-27J Loadmaster, MC-12W Sensor Operator
Evaluator: KC-135R Inflight Refueler, C-27J Loadmaster
Flight Hours: More Than 7,000
Aircraft Flown: KC-135R, C-27J, MC-12W, C-130H
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant June 2013
(Current as of May 2014)