# James A. Cody

James A. Cody (born June 19, 1965) is a retired airman of the United States Air Force who served as the 17th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 24 January 2013 until his retirement on February 17, 2017. He served as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and advancement of the enlisted force.

## Military career

Cody entered the United States Air Force in November 1984. He graduated from the air traffic control specialist course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in May 1985. His background includes various duties in air traffic control at the unit and major-command levels. Throughout his career, he has filled myriad roles including additional-duty first sergeant and Directorate Superintendent. His assignments include bases in New Hampshire, California, Virginia, and Florida. He also served overseas in Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.
Prior to assuming his last position, Cody served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

## Education

    1987 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
    1989 Air Force Communications Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
    1993 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
    1995 USAFE Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
    1997 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
    1998 Associate degree airway science, Community College of the Air Force
    2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
    2005 Chief's Leadership Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
    2005 United States Air Force Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, California
    2006 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    2008 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
    2008 AFSO 21 Executive Leadership Course, Disney Institute, Orlando, Florida
    2009 Keystone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
    2010 COMAFFOR Senior Staff Course, United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, New Jersey
    2010 United States Air Force Enterprise Management Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
    2012 Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, Trident University International, Cypress, California

## Assignments

* November 1984 – January 1985, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
* January 1985 – June 1985, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
* June 1985 – June 1988, Air Traffic Controller, 1964th CG, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
* June 1988 – January 1991, ATC Watch Supervisor, 1916th CS, Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire
* January 1991 – May 1993, ATC Watch Supervisor, 30th OSS, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
* May 1993 – May 1994, ATC Watch Supervisor, 51st OSS, Osan Air Base, South Korea
* June 1994 – June 1996, Superintendent, Airfield Operations Training, 39th OSS, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
* June 1996 – March 2000, Superintendent, Airfield Operations, Readiness/Training, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
* March 2000 – May 2003, Chief Controller, Tower, 1st Sergeant, 6th OSS, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (April 2002 – Jul 2002, Superintendent, Combat Airspace Management Cell, Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
* June 2003 – July 2005, Superintendent, Directorate of Air and Space Operations and ATC Functional Manager, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
* July 2005 – August 2007, Command Chief, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Travis Air Force Base, California
* Aug 2007 – July 2008, Command Chief, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
* July 2008 – Sep 2010, Command Chief, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
* Sep 2010 – January 2013, Command Chief, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio/Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
* January 2013 – February 2017, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

## Awards and decorations

* Master Air Traffic Control Badge
* Headquarters Air Force Badge
Personal decorations :
| | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |
| | Legion of Merit |
| | Meritorious Service Medal with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | Air Force Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster |
| Unit awards ||
| | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
| | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device, silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| Service awards ||
| | Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | (second ribbon denoting tenth award) |
| | Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon |
| Campaign and service medals ||
| | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
| | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star |
| | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| | Korea Defense Service Medal |
| | Armed Forces Service Medal |
| | Humanitarian Service Medal |
| | Air and Space Campaign Medal |
| | Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
| Service, training, and marksmanship awards ||
| | Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster |
| | Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon |
| | Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon |
| | Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
| | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star |
| | Air Force Training Ribbon |

### Other achievements

    1994 PACAF ORI Outstanding Performer
    1994 39th Air Base Wing NCO of the Year
    1995 John L. Levitow Award, NCO Academy
    1995 USAFE ATC Training Achievement Award
    1995 STEP promotion to Master Sergeant
    1997 ACC Director of Air and Space Operations SNCO of the Year
    2001 Distinguished Graduate, SNCO Academy
    2001 AMC Air Traffic Control Enlisted Manager of the Year
    2001 Tampa Bay Military Citizen of the Year
    2001 Air Mobility Command SNCO of the Year