Chief Master Sergeant Christopher S. Ottenwess is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He is the senior enlisted leader responsible to the commander on all matters concerning the welfare, development, readiness, and effective utilization of 1,700 personnel across three groups assigned to six installations. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducts undergraduate helicopter pilot training, graduate flying training for Special Operations, Personnel Recovery, and Nuclear Security missions on 6 distinct weapons platforms, as well as Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training. Through these distinct and unique training programs, the wing trains over 17,000 students every year.
Chief Ottenwess grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and joined the Air Force in 1997. He graduated initial KC-135 Boom Operator training at Altus AFB in February of 1998 before being assigned to his first duty station at McGuire AFB, NJ. He has served at the tactical, operational, and strategic level as an Instructor, Evaluator, Inspector, Interim First Sergeant, and Superintendent. He has deployed in support of Operations DESERT FOX, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, he served as the 14th Operations Group Superintendent, Columbus AFB, Mississippi. CMSgt Ottenwess is a Chief Enlisted Aircrew Member with more than 5,600 hours in the KC-135R and KC-10A.
EDUCATION
2001 Airmen Leadership School, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
2002 Associate of Applied Science, Aircrew Operations, Community College of the Air Force
2003 Associate of Applied Science, Instructor of Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2004 Occupational Instructor Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Bachelor of Science, Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (Non-Residence)
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2011 Professional Manager Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2014 United States Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Advanced Course, Quantico, Va.
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2021 Senior Enlisted Joint PME II, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2022 Masters of Arts, Organizational Leadership, University of Massachusetts, Global Campus
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1998 – December 2000, Boom Operator, 2d Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J. (December 1998-February 1999, Boom Operator, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
2. January 2001 – August 2005, Combat Crew Training School Instructor Boom, 305th Operations Support Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J. (July – September 2003, Instructor Boom Operator, 379th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar; November 2004 – January 2005, Instructor Boom Operator, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
3. September 2005 – August 2008, Evaluator Boom Operator Flight Chief, 2d Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J. (May – August 2007 Evaluator Boom Operator, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, U.A.E.)
4. September 2008 – July 2010, Mobile Command and Control Coordinator, 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. August 2010 – July 2012, Operations Inspection Manager, Air Mobility Command Inspector General, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. August 2012 – August 2014, Superintendent, Formal Training Unit, 305th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base-McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
7. September 2014 – October 2015, Superintendent, Boom Operator, 2d Air Refueling Squadron, JB-MDL, N.J.
8. November 2015 – April 2016, Superintendent, Operations, 621st Contingency Response Squadron, JB-MDL, N.J.
9. May 2016 – January 2018, Senior Enlisted Manager, 621st Contingency Response Squadron, JB-MDL, N.J.
10. February 2018 – June 2019, Superintendent, 2d Air Refueling Squadron, JB-MDL, N.J.
11. June 2019 – April 2021, Superintendent, 305th Operations Group, JB-MDL, N.J. (July 2020 – January 2021, Superintendent, 407th Air Expeditionary Group, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
12. April 2021 – August 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
13. August 2023 – Present, Command Chief, 58 Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Squadron Airman of the Year, 2d Air Refueling Squadron
2005 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 2d Air Refueling Squadron
2006 Big Brother of the Year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Burlington County, N.J.
2006 Red Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member, 2d Air Refueling Squadron
2011 AF Assistance Fund Excellent Achievement Award
2011 ATA Young Leader Award, Air Mobility Command Inspector General
2011 Red Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member, Air Mobility Command Inspector General 2011 Combined Federal Campaign Key Worker Award
2012 Red Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member, 305th Air Mobility Wing
2013 Red Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member, 2d Air Refueling Squadron
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 2d Air Refueling Squadron
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant June 1, 2018
(Current as of Aug 2023)