Chief Master Sergeant BYRON D. PHILLIPS

Chief Master Sergeant Byron D. Phillips is the Command Chief for the 140th Wing, Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. As the Command Chief, he advises the wing commander on matters impacting the enlisted force such as proper utilization of personnel, quality of enlisted leadership, management/supervisor training, operations tempo and quality of life. Further, Chief Phillips is responsible for monitoring compliance with Air National Guard and Air Force standards including those standards governing conduct, performance, appearance, and professional military education. He serves on advisory councils and works to insure a close relationship with the local community. Chief Phillips maintains as liaison between the wing commander and enlisted force and staff members, and communicates with the wing commander on issues, concerns, and morale of the enlisted force. Also, Chief Phillips serves as the functional manager for assigned 140th Wing First Sergeants and performs other duties as outlined and directed by the 140th Wing Commander.

Chief Phillips enlisted in the Air Force in October 1997. In January 1998, he graduated from the Security Specialist Apprentice School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He served 24 years on active duty and served in a variety of leadership positions at the squadron, group, and MAJCOM levels and then joined the Colorado Air National Guard in 2022. He has deployed to various locations in direct support of Operations DESERT FOX, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, DELIBERATE RESOLVE, and the Resolute Support Mission. Prior to his current position, Chief Phillips was assigned as the 140th Mission Support Group Superintendent, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.

EDUCATION
1997 Air Base Ground Defense School, Camp Bullis, Texas
1997 Security (Short) Specialist Apprentice School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2002 Airman Leadership School, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2002 Tactical Automated Security System Administrator Course, Creech AFB, Nev.
2006 Crime Prevention Course, Eastern Kentucky University, Ky.
2008 Associates of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2011 College of Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2011 Associate of Applied Science in Instructor-in-Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Knowledge Online
2013 US Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advance Coarse, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
2014 Professional Management Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Integrated Defense Command and Control Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2016 Inspector General Training Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2017 Bachelors of Arts in Education Studies, Ashford University, Calif.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Knowledge Online
2019 Dynamics of International Terrorism Course, Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla.
2020 Chief’s Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Lackland AFB, Texas

ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1998–October 1999, Security Escort and Camper Alert Team, 790 SFS, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
(Deployed November 1998–March 1999, Fire Team Member, 363 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron (ESFS), Prince Sultan Air Base (AB), Saudi Arabia)
2. October 1999–October 2000, Security Forces Entry Controller, 8 SFS, Kunsan AB, Korea
3. October 2000–January 2011, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Plans & Programs, 88 SFS, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
(Deployed September 2002–November 2002, Security Forces Desk Sergeant, 380 ESFS, Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates)
(Deployed November 2004–July 2005, Response Force Leader, 886 ESFS, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
(Deployed August 2006–February 2007, Flight Chief, 429 ESFS, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles)
(Deployed June 2008–December 2008, Flight Chief, 586 ESFS, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
(Deployed August 2009–March 2010, Quality Assurance, 332 ESFS, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
4. January 2011–January 2015, Communications Division Superintendent, Airey Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. January 2015–August 2016, Logistics Superintendent, 375 SFS, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. August 2016–March 2018, Command Security Forces Inspection Manager, Air Mobility Command Inspector General, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. March 2018–August 2019, Security Forces Manager, 375 SFS, Scott AFB, Ill.
8. August 2019–July 2020, Operations Superintendent, Force Protection Directorate, Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
9. July 2020–March 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 460 SFS, Buckley Space Force Base (SFB), CO.
10. April 2022–May 2023, Group Superintendent, 140 Mission Support Group, Buckley SFB, CO.
11. May 2023 – Present, Wing Command Chief, 140 Wing, Buckley SFB, CO.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVMENTS
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Airey Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2010 Support Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 88 SFS, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2014 Tuskegee Airmen/Fred Archer Military Award, Airey NCOA, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2015 Support Staff Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 375 SFS, Scott AFB, Ill.
2015 Tuskegee Airmen/Fred Archer Military Award, 375 Mission Support Group, Scott AFB, Ill.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic October 1, 1997
Airman April 1, 1998
Airman First Class Feb. 1, 1999
Senior Airman Oct. 1, 2000
Staff Sergeant July 1, 2002
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2006
Master Sergeant Nov. 1, 2011
Senior Master Sergeant Aug. 1, 2016
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2020

(Current as of May 2023)