Chief Master Sergeant Christopher D. Griste is the Command Chief, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He advises the commander on matters influencing the readiness, training, education, and resiliency of 7,110 active duty Airmen and civilians and more than 8,000 family members. Further, he supervises the support of the 31,000 local military retirees and 29 geographically separated units across nine states. The wing’s mission is to sustain operational suppression of enemy air defenses by way of the three F-16 Fighting Falcon units for a 79 aircraft fleet worth $1.7B to ensure combat readiness to deploy, employ, and sustain air superiority.
Chief Griste is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He entered the Air Force in February 1996, as a Services Apprentice. His career has included diverse assignments in Florida, Netherlands, Texas, Korea, Alaska, Ohio, Alabama and New Mexico. He has participated in several contingencies in support of Air Force Operations including; Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, he served six years as a First Sergeant as well as a First Sergeant Instructor.
Prior to this assignment, he served as the Command Chief for Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
1996 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
1996 Services Apprentice Technical School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2000 Airman Leadership School, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
2004 AS Restaurant, Hotel, and Fitness Management, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Basic Instructors Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2006 AS Military Instructor Technology, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Occupational Instructor Certification, Lackland AFB, Texas
2007 Bachelor of Science, Business Management w/Computer Info Systems, Park University
2007 AETC Master Instructor, Lackland AFB, Texas
2008 NCO Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2010 SNCO Academy, Correspondence
2011 SNCO Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2012 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 AS Human Resource Management, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Correspondence Course
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course (AETC) Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 USAF CPI Senior Leader Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Next Jump Leadership Academy, New York City, New York
2019 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.
2019 Arctic Defense and Security Orientation Course
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Master of Science, Management- Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness, Troy University
2022 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2022 USAF Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Artificial Intelligence for National Security, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1996- May 1996, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. May 1996- June 1996, student, 344 Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. June 1996- June 2000, Services Journeyman, 16th Services Squadron, Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla.
(August 1998-October 1998, Quality Assurance Evaluator, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
4. June 2000- June 2004, Assistant NCOIC, Recreation Services, 752 MUNSS, Volkel AB, Netherlands
5. July 2004-July 2008, Instructor Supervisor, 344 Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
6. July 2008-Aug 2009, Community Center Director, 8 FSS, Kunsan AB, Korea
7. August 2009- August 2012, Operations Superintendent, 673 FSS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
8. Sept 2012- February 2014, First Sergeant, Geospatial and Signatures Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
(March 2013- August 2013, First Sergeant, 966 Air Expeditionary Squadron, Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan)
9. February 2014- February 2015, First Sergeant, National Air & Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
10. February 2015 – May 2018, Vice Commandant, United States Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
11. May 2018 – July 2020, Superintendent, 354 FSS, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. July 2020- January 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
13. January 2022- June 2023, Command Chief, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
14. June 2023 – Present, Command Chief, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze service star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Instructor of the Year, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
2010 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, 673d Mission Support Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
2013 First Sergeant of the Year, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 First Sergeant of the Year, Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 First Sergeant of the Year, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant, August 2018
(Current as of Jul 23)