Chief Master Sergeant Douglas W. Rhodes is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 153d Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard. He serves as the principal advisor to the Wing Commander on personnel issues affecting the force. Chief Rhodes provides advice on military readiness, morale, quality of life, professional development and career progression along with the effective utilization of more than 1,300 personnel across 20 squadrons. In addition, he offers the enlisted perspective on key defense initiatives such as the State Partnership Program, aerial firefighting, aero-medical evacuation unit, a command and control mission, and an air traffic control unit.
Chief Rhodes entered the Air Force in November 1992 and attended the Security Forces Specialist Course graduating in February 1993. His first duty station was F.E. Warren AFB as a Security Forces Camper Alert Team in the Tri-State missile field and an Ambassador Gate Guard. After separating from active duty in November, 1996, Chief Rhodes enlisted in the Wyoming Air National Guard continuing his journey in the Security Forces career field. After being with the squadron for just over two years he was selected for the Unit Training Manager position which he held for 11 years. During this time Chief Rhodes led fellow Security Forces members on numerous deployments both CONUS and OCONUS to include detainee operations, multiple six month rotations oversees, Hurricane Katrina operations and supported presidential inaugurations. Chief Rhodes has also held positions as the Chief Enlisted Manger at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Superintendent at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Security Forces Manager, member of the State Anti-Terrorism Joint Task Force through the state Attorney General’s Office and the primary instructor for the Quick Response Force program for the Adjutant General.
Throughout the years Chief Rhodes has been heavily involved in the community and professional organizations. Some such organizations have included Security Forces Field Advisory Council Senior Enlisted Leader, Enlisted Force Development Council, Air Force Security Forces Association, Chiefs and Sergeants Major Group President, Weapons and Tactics SF Council, Warren Federal Credit Union Foundation, EANGUS, Security Chairmen of the Wyoming Brewer’s Festival, Cheyenne Frontier Days Public Relations Committee and coached club volleyball for Northern Colorado. Prior to his current position, the Chief was the Security Forces Manager, 153d Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, WY.
EDUCATION
1993 Apprentice Security Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, TX
1997 Airman Leadership School, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
1999 Craftsman Security Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, TX
2002 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2004 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2009 Senior Enlisted Joint PME, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA, by correspondence
2011 Resource Protection/Crime Prevention Theory, Practice and Management, East Lansing, MI
2012 Associate in Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1992 – December 1992, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
2. December 1992 – March 1993, student, Security Forces technical school, Lackland AFB, TX
3. March 1993 – December 1994, Security Escort Member, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
4. December 1994 – March 1993, Security Police, Onizuka Air Station, San Jose CA
5. March – June 1995, Security Escort Member, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
6. June 1995 – March 1996, Ambassador Gate Guard, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
7. March – November 1996, Security Journeyman, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
8. November 1996 – January 2000, Security Journeyman, 153d Airlift Wing, Cheyenne WY
9. January 2000 – March 2010, Formal Training Instructor SFS Craftsman, 153 AW, Cheyenne WY (December 2002–May 2003, Unit Training Manager, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; February–September 2009, Unit Training Manager, Sather Air Base, Iraq)
10. March 2010 – June 2013, Security Forces Superintendent, 153 AW, Cheyenne WY
11. June 2013 – Present, Security Forces Manager, 153 AW, Cheyenne WY (October 2015 – April 2016, Chief Enlisted Manager, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan; May – November 2021, Superintendent, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, Afghanistan)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Wyoming National Guard Exceptional Achievement Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 “Top Cop”, 153d Security Forces Squadron
2003 Senior NCO of the Month, 363d Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
2003 Senior NCO of the Month, 363d Expeditionary Support Group
2008 Outstanding Performer, AMC Inspector General
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Nov. 16, 1992
Airman May 16, 1993
Airman First Class March 16, 1994
Senior Airman Nov. 16, 1995
Staff Sergeant Nov. 17, 1997
Technical Sergeant Feb. 1, 2000
Master Sergeant Feb. 14, 2002
Senior Master Sergeant July 1, 2010
Chief Master Sergeant Aug. 1, 2013
(Current as of October 2021)