Chief Master Sgt. John C. Burgess is the Command Chief, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. As the Command Chief, Chief Burgess ensures personnel programs are in place to enhance the morale, health, and welfare for more than 640 personnel assigned to headquarters, five major detachments, and 11 operating locations across the nation. In addition to monitoring morale, he articulates the commander’s vision and policies and communicates the concerns of the enlisted force to the commander. He also advises senior leadership on manpower, personnel, and professional development issues affecting 45 enlisted career fields in support of operational test and evaluation of more than 98 major acquisition programs valued at more than $1 trillion.
Chief Burgess entered active duty after attending the University of Memphis in October 1997. His background includes various duties in air traffic control to include Master Instructor, Tower Chief Controller, and Radar Approach Control Chief Controller. Chief Burgess also served as Temporary Duty Group First Sergeant for the 366th and 47th Operations Groups. He has been assigned to Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Pacific Air Forces. His assignments include bases in Mississippi, Republic of Korea, Germany, Honduras, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Japan, and Utah.
EDUCATION
2002 Airman Leadership School, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
2004 Associate in Applied Science Airway Science, Community College of the Air Force
2005 Bachelor of Science in Applied Science & Technology, Thomas Edison State University
2005 Basic Instructor Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2006 Associate in Applied Science Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Instructor Level II Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2008 Additional Duty First Sergeant Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by distance learning
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by distance learning
2011 Air Traffic Control Chief Controller Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Leader Professional Military Education II Course, by distance learning
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2021 Group Superintendent Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1997 – December 1997, student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1997 – April 1998, student, Air Traffic Control Operator Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. April 1998 – August 2000, Radar Approach Control Apprentice Air Traffic Controller, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. August 2000 – May 2001, Radar Approach Control Air Traffic Controller, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. May 2001 – May 2002, Radar Approach Control Air Traffic Controller, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
6. June 2002 – October 2002, Radar Approach Control Air Traffic Controller, Ramstein AB, Germany
7. October 2002 – February 2004, Watch Supervisor, Air Traffic Control Ground-Controlled Approach, Ramstein AB, Germany
8. February 2004 – June 2005, Chief, Air Traffic Control Training, Ramstein AB, Germany
9. July 2005 – April 2008, Instructor, Air Traffic Control, Keesler AFB, Miss.
10. April 2008 – July 2009, Instructor Supervisor, Air Traffic Control, Keesler AFB, Miss.
11. September 2009 – September 2010, Watch Supervisor, Air Traffic Control Ground-Controlled Approach, Soto Cano AB, Honduras
12. September 2010 – January 2011, Tower Air Traffic Controller, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
13. January 2011 – February 2012, Tower Chief Controller, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
14. February 2012 – July 2012, Temporary Duty First Sergeant, 366th Operations Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
15. July 2012 – April 2013, Radar Approach Control Assistant Chief Controller, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
16. April 2013 – November 2013, Tower Chief Controller, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
17. November 2013 – July 2015, Tower Chief Controller, Laughlin AFB, Texas
18. July 2015 – March 2016, Radar Approach Control Chief Controller, Laughlin AFB, Texas
19. March 2016 – May 2017, Tower Chief Controller, Laughlin AFB, Texas
20. May 2017 – January 2019, Radar Approach Control Chief Controller, Vance AFB, Okla.
21. January 2019 – June 2021, Superintendent, 374th Operations Support Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
22. June 2021 – June 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 388th Operations Group, Hill AFB, Utah
23. June 2023 – Present, Command Chief, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Instructor Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Outstanding Instructor Award, 334th Training Squadron
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 366th Operations Group
2011 Air Traffic Control Manager of the Year, Air Combat Command
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 366th Fighter Wing
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 47th Operations Group
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 47th Flying Training Wing
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Oct. 22, 1997
Airman April 22, 1998
Airman First Class Feb. 22, 1999
Senior Airman April 22, 2000
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2002
Technical Sergeant April 1, 2007
Master Sergeant June 1, 2011
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2014
Chief Master Sergeant Aug. 1, 2017
(Current as of June 2023)