Chief Master Sergeant Joshua W. Swanger is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The wing’s mission is to provide rapid global mobility and operate the Air Force’s premier power projection platform, the C-130J. The wing conducts tactical, combat, humanitarian relief, and contingency airlift all around the world. Chief Swanger advises the commander and senior leadership on military readiness, mission effectiveness, professional development, morale, welfare, training, and good order and discipline of the wing’s 1,200 personnel. Additionally, he serves as the commander’s representative for numerous councils, committees, boards, and civilian functions. Lastly, he ensures the commander’s policies and guidance are known, understood, and enforced.
Chief Swanger grew up in Spokane, Washington and entered the Air Force in February 1993 as an aircraft fuel systems mechanic. His background includes various duties in F-16, A-10, KC-135, EC-135, F-15E, MQ-1/9, B-1, and C-17 aircraft maintenance. He has wide-ranging expeditionary experience spanning eight deployed tours in aircraft maintenance, four deployed tours as a First Sergeant, and one deployed tour as an Operations Group Superintendent supporting Operations Provide Hope, Provide Comfort, Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Noble Anvil, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
1993 KC-135 Fuel Systems Maintenance Course, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
1996 Airman Leadership School, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
1999 F-16 Fuel Systems/Hydrazine Maintenance Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2002 Aircraft Maintenance Production Supervisor Course, Fort Dix, New Jersey
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2005 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2006 Associates of Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course, Norfolk, Virginia
2007 Associates of Applied Science, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2010 USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate Certification, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 Air Combat Command Chief Leadership Seminar, Nellis AFB, NV
2015 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice (cum laude), University of Management and Technology, Arlington, Virginia
2015 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Randolph AFB, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
Jun 1993 – Jun 1996: Aircraft Fuel Systems Journeyman, 43 LS, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
Jun 1996 – Feb 2001: Aircraft Fuel Systems Craftsman, 6 MXS, MacDill AFB, Florida
Feb 2001 – Feb 2002: Shift Supervisor, Aircraft Fuel Systems, 8 MXS, Kunsan AB, South Korea
Feb 2002 – Jul 2004: Aircraft Fuel Systems Repair Section Chief, 92 MXS, Fairchild AFB, Washington
Jul 2004 – Jul 2005: Aero Repair/Wheel & Tire Section Chief, 92 MXS, Fairchild AFB, Washington
Jul 2005 – Aug 2008: First Sergeant, 39 AS & 317 AG, Dyess AFB, Texas
Aug 2008 – Apr 2012: Accessories Flight Chief/Lead Production Superintendent, 7 CMS, Dyess AFB, Texas
Apr 2012 – Dec 2012: Quality Assurance Chief, 7 MXG, Dyess AFB, Texas
Dec 2012 – Dec 2013: Squadron Superintendent, 51 MXS, Osan AB, South Korea
Dec 2013 – Nov 2014: Squadron Superintendent, 7 CMS, Dyess AFB, Texas
Nov 2014 – Apr 2016: Group Superintendent, 7 MXG, Dyess AFB, Texas
Apr 2016 – Jun 2016: Group Superintendent, 62 MXG, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Jul 2017 – Present: Command Chief Master Sergeant, 317 AW, Dyess AFB, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1993 Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
1995 Senior Airman Below the Zone Promotee
1996 Airman Leadership School Commandant’s Award
1997 6 MXS Lt General Leo Marquez Award
1999 MacDill AFB Honor Guard Flight Sergeant of the Year
2002 92 MXS Lance P. Sijan Award
2003 92 MXS Lt General Leo Marquez Award
2006 317 AG First Sergeant of the Year
2006 Air Mobility Command First Sgt 12 OAY Nominee
2009 Air Force SNCO Academy Distinguished Graduate
2011 7 BW Lance P. Sijan Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant November 2012
(current as of April 2017)