Richard D. Kisling
Encyclopedia
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Richard D. Kisling (October 11, 1923 – November 3, 1985) was the third Chief Master Sergeant
appointed to the highest non-commissioned officer
position in the United States Air Force
.
Chief Kisling was born in Mapleton, Iowa
, and graduated from Castana High School, Castana, Iowa
in May 1941. He entered the U.S. Army in July 1944 and served overseas in the European area with the 3rd Infantry Division and 88th Infantry Division. In April 1947, he re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was assigned to the Mobile Training Unit, Chanute Field, Illinois. When the Air Force became a separate military service in 1947, he transferred to the Air Force and was in the personnel field during most of his subsequent career. In May 1948, he transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base
, California, where he served as a personnel clerk, enlisted branch, Headquarters 4th Air Force. He was assigned to the 1261st Air Transport Squadron, Tripoli, Libya, in April 1950 and served as first sergeant.
He returned to the United States in April 1952 and was assigned as first sergeant of the 1707th Food Service Squadron, Palm Beach International Airport
, West Palm Beach, Florida
. In October 1952 he transferred to Amarillo, Texas
, as first sergeant and personnel sergeant major with the 1739th Ferrying Squadron. In February 1954, Chief Kisling was assigned to the Southwest Recruiting District, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He became sergeant major of the 3504th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Group, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in May 1954. In 1956 he was selected as the Outstanding Support Airman of the Year for Air Force Recruiting Service.
Chief Kisling was sent to Chaumont, France, in August 1956 as base personnel sergeant major, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. In August 1959 he became base personnel sergeant major at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and he was promoted to chief master sergeant December 1, 1959. He was selected as the Outstanding Airman of the Year for 12th Air Force in 1960.
He transferred to March Air Force Base, Calif., in August 1961 for duty as Tactical Air Command personnel adviser to the 452nd Troop Carrier Wing of the Air Force Reserve. He was assigned as base personnel sergeant major at George Air Force Base, Calif., in September 1962.
In August 1963 Chief Kisling joined the U.S. Air Force Security Service as personnel sergeant major, European Security Region, Frankfurt, West Germany. In May 1967 he became noncommissioned officer in charge, programs and requirements division, deputy chief of staff, personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Security Service, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He was selected as the senior airman adviser, U.S. Air Force Security Service in September 1969. He became chief master sergeant of the Air Force on October 1, 1971 and he retired September 30, 1973.
Upon his retirement, Chief Kisling continued serving the U.S. Air Force as a civil servant, assigned to the Air Staff. He served on the staff of the deputy chief of staff, personnel, from April 1975 through October 1982, and with the staff of the deputy chief of staff, administration, from November 1982 until his retirement from civil service on May 20, 1985. He was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award in May 1985.
Chief Kisling died November 3, 1985 at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as a result of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His contributions and dedicated service to the Air Force and country spanned more than 40 years—as a leader, a spokesperson and a great friend of the enlisted corps.
(From U.S. Air Force Biography)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,...
Richard D. Kisling (October 11, 1923 – November 3, 1985) was the third Chief Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant
CMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the...
appointed to the highest non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
position in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Biography
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Richard D. Kisling was adviser to Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans Jr. and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John D. Ryan on matters concerning welfare, effective utilization and progress of the enlisted members of the Air Force. He was the third chief master sergeant appointed to this top noncommissioned officer position.Chief Kisling was born in Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mapleton is located at...
, and graduated from Castana High School, Castana, Iowa
Castana, Iowa
Castana is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 178 at the 2000 census.-History:The city was founded in the summer of 1866 by A.G. Hammond, formerly a resident of Hartford, Connecticut. However Mr. Hammond died and a Mr...
in May 1941. He entered the U.S. Army in July 1944 and served overseas in the European area with the 3rd Infantry Division and 88th Infantry Division. In April 1947, he re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was assigned to the Mobile Training Unit, Chanute Field, Illinois. When the Air Force became a separate military service in 1947, he transferred to the Air Force and was in the personnel field during most of his subsequent career. In May 1948, he transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, California, where he served as a personnel clerk, enlisted branch, Headquarters 4th Air Force. He was assigned to the 1261st Air Transport Squadron, Tripoli, Libya, in April 1950 and served as first sergeant.
He returned to the United States in April 1952 and was assigned as first sergeant of the 1707th Food Service Squadron, Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available...
, West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. In October 1952 he transferred to Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, as first sergeant and personnel sergeant major with the 1739th Ferrying Squadron. In February 1954, Chief Kisling was assigned to the Southwest Recruiting District, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He became sergeant major of the 3504th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Group, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in May 1954. In 1956 he was selected as the Outstanding Support Airman of the Year for Air Force Recruiting Service.
Chief Kisling was sent to Chaumont, France, in August 1956 as base personnel sergeant major, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. In August 1959 he became base personnel sergeant major at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and he was promoted to chief master sergeant December 1, 1959. He was selected as the Outstanding Airman of the Year for 12th Air Force in 1960.
He transferred to March Air Force Base, Calif., in August 1961 for duty as Tactical Air Command personnel adviser to the 452nd Troop Carrier Wing of the Air Force Reserve. He was assigned as base personnel sergeant major at George Air Force Base, Calif., in September 1962.
In August 1963 Chief Kisling joined the U.S. Air Force Security Service as personnel sergeant major, European Security Region, Frankfurt, West Germany. In May 1967 he became noncommissioned officer in charge, programs and requirements division, deputy chief of staff, personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Security Service, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He was selected as the senior airman adviser, U.S. Air Force Security Service in September 1969. He became chief master sergeant of the Air Force on October 1, 1971 and he retired September 30, 1973.
Upon his retirement, Chief Kisling continued serving the U.S. Air Force as a civil servant, assigned to the Air Staff. He served on the staff of the deputy chief of staff, personnel, from April 1975 through October 1982, and with the staff of the deputy chief of staff, administration, from November 1982 until his retirement from civil service on May 20, 1985. He was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award in May 1985.
Chief Kisling died November 3, 1985 at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as a result of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His contributions and dedicated service to the Air Force and country spanned more than 40 years—as a leader, a spokesperson and a great friend of the enlisted corps.
(From U.S. Air Force Biography)
Legacy
- In 2004, Kisling Community Center at Lackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
was dedicated to CMSAF Richard D. Kisling.
Major Awards and Decorations
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- Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusterOak leaf clusterAn oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
- Air Force Exceptional Public Service AwardDecoration for Exceptional Civilian ServiceThe Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award granted by the United States Secretary of the Air Force to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate...
- Air Force Good Conduct Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal with silver claspGood Conduct LoopA Good Conduct Loop is an award of the United States Army which denotes additional decorations of the Army Good Conduct Medal. Good Conduct Loops were first created in 1941 and were based on the concept of the enlistment bar...
s - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalThe European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
with service stars - World War II Victory MedalWorld War II Victory MedalThe World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
- Army of Occupation MedalArmy of Occupation MedalThe Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany or Japan...
- National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with service stars - Air Force Longevity Service AwardAir Force Longevity Service AwardThe Air Force Longevity Service Award is a military award of the United States Air Force which was first issued in 1957 by order of General Thomas D. White, Air Force Chief of Staff...
with silver oak leaf clusters