Chief Master Sergeant Joseph C. Cook serves as the eighth Command Chief for the 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Alabama. He represents the Wing’s highest level of enlisted leadership and is the principal advisor to the 117th Air Refueling Wing Commander. Chief Cook is responsible for all matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, training, readiness and professional development of the Wing's Airmen. The mission of the 117th Air Refueling Wing is to provide quality worldwide air refueling, airlift, support, logistics, intelligence, and medical services in support of our community, state, and nation.
Chief Cook enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard in March 2001. He graduated Command Post Controller technical training August 2001. He spent eight years in the 117th Air Refueling Wing Command Post as a Console Operator. Following his Command Post assignment, Chief Cook served as the Supervisor of Combat Crew Communications for the 117th Operations Support Squadron. In June 2015, Chief Cook was selected as the First Sergeant for the 117th Intelligence Squadron followed by the selection of Wing First Sergeant in November 2016. During his time as the Wing First Sergeant, he was afforded the opportunity to also be the assigned First Sergeant for the 117th Medical Group. Prior to his current position, Chief Cook was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Command Post for the 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Alabama.
EDUCATION
2002 Airman Leadership School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Associate in Applied Science, Information Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., by correspondence
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2016 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Associate in Applied Science, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint PME-II, Joint Knowledge Online, Suffolk, Va., by correspondence
2018 Defense Support of Civilian Authorities Phase I, Joint Knowledge Online, Suffolk, Va., by correspondence
2022 Joint Nuclear Command and Control course, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2023 Nuclear Command and Control 150 course, School of Strategic Force Studies, AFIT
2024 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
- March 2001 – April 2009, Command Post Controller, 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Ala.
- April 2009 – August 2015, Combat Crew Communications, 117th Operations Group, Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala. (August – November 2009, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; June – August 2011, July – October 2013, November – February 2014, Combat Crew Communications NCOIC, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
- June 2015 – November 2016, First Sergeant, 117th Intelligence Squadron, Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala.
- November 2016 – December 2021, Wing First Sergeant, 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala.
- December 2021 – June 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Post, 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala.
- June 2024 – Present, Command Chief, 117th Air Refueling Wing, Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Alabama National Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Alabama National Guard Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 117th Air Refueling Wing
2003 Alabama Outstanding Airman of the Year
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2017 Alabama First Sergeant of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant December 10, 2021
(Current as of September 2024)