Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

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,...

 Robert D. Gaylor (born May 8, 1930) was the fifth 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 enlisted 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...

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Biography

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert D. Gaylor was adviser to Secretary of the Air Force John C. Stetson and Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David C. Jones and Gen. Lew Allen Jr. on matters concerning welfare, effective utilization and progress of the enlisted members of the Air Force. He was the fifth chief master sergeant appointed to this ultimate noncommissioned officer position.

Chief Gaylor was born in Bellevue, Iowa; however, most of his youth was spent in Indiana. He entered the Air Force in September 1948 and was assigned to the security police career field, in which he served until 1957. In September 1957 he served as a military training instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, until February 1962. He then returned to the security police field until July 1965. During Chief Gaylor's security police years, his early assignments were at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas; Laredo Air Force Base, Texas; Kunsan Air Base, Korea; Tachikawa Air Base, Japan; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; and Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Chief Gaylor was an honor graduate of Class 65B of the Second Air Force Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy at Barksdale AFB. After graduation in April 1965 he was selected to be an instructor at the academy and taught there until it closed in April 1966. Following a security police tour at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, Chief Gaylor returned to Barksdale and assisted in reopening the SAC NCO Academy. In February 1970 he became senior enlisted adviser for Second Air Force. In July 1971 Chief Gaylor transferred to Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), where he traveled to USAFE bases teaching management techniques. In June 1972 he established the USAFE Command Management and Leadership Center, an in-residence, 60-hour course of instruction for USAFE NCOs. He continued as noncommissioned officer in charge of the center until his selection as USAFE Senior Enlisted Adviser in August 1973. In September 1974 Chief Gaylor was assigned to the Air Force Military Personnel Center, where he traveled extensively as a management and leadership instructor. He became chief master sergeant of the Air Force in 1977 and retired July 31, 1979.

After retiring from the Air Force, Gaylor taught, coached, and mentored leaders at all levels for USAA

USAA

United Services Automobile Association is a Fortune 500 financial services company offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military. In 2011, there were 8.4 million members. The company reported a net worth of $19.3 billion in...

, a Fortune 500 company. In 2006, the NCO academy at Lackland AFB was named the Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy in his honor.http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123018331

(Taken from U.S. Air Force Biography)

Major awards and decorations

Awarded but not worn as the CMSAF

Air Force Security Forces Badge

Succession