Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

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Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force service cap badge.png
CMSSF service cap badge
Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force.svg
CMSSF flag
CMSSF John F. Bentivegna.jpg
since 15 September 2023 (15 September 2023)
United States Space Force
Space Staff
Style Chief
Type Senior enlisted advisor
AbbreviationCMSSF
Member ofThe Space Staff
Reports to Chief of Space Operations
Residence Joint Base Andrews, Maryland [1]
AppointerChief of Space Operations
Formation3 April 2020
First holder Roger A. Towberman
Salary$9,786.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity [2]
Website Official Website

The chief master sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF) is the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of space operations and the secretary of the Air Force. The chief master sergeant of the Space Force is the most senior enlisted guardian in the U.S. Space Force, unless an enlisted guardian is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. [3]

Contents

Appointment and responsibilities

The chief of space operations appoints the chief master sergeant of the Space Force and is designated a special paygrade above E-9. To be appointed, the appointee must have at least 22 years of service and must have been a chief master sergeant for at least three years. [4]

The chief master sergeant of the Space Force is the highest noncommissioned officer in the Space Force. The chief serves as the senior enlisted advisor to both the chief of space operations and the secretary of the Air Force on all matters regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and progress of Space Force enlisted members and their families. [3]

History

The inaugural chief master sergeant of the Space Force, Chief Master Sergeant Roger A. Towberman, was sworn in on 3 April 2020, having previously served as the command chief master sergeant of the Air Force Space Command, and concurrently serving as the senior enlisted leader of the United States Space Command. In addition to being the first chief master sergeant of the Space Force, he is also the second member of the Space Force and its first enlisted member. [3]

The position was originally known as the senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force (SEASF) from 3 April 2020 until it was renamed on 1 February 2021 to chief master sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF). [5]

In 2023, five chief master sergeants were considered to replace Towberman who is slated to retire. They went through a series of tests, which included an interview by an occupational psychologist, a mock U.S. Congress testimony, a mock town hall with airmen, and an interview with senior Space Force officials, that would guide General B. Chance Saltzman's selection. [4] On May 5, 2023, Saltzman selected John F. Bentivegna to replace Towberman and serve as the second chief master sergeant of the Space Force. His assignment was announced on May 8, 2023. [6]

Insignia

The first rank insignia worn by the chief master sergeant of the Space Force, was based upon the rank insignia of the Air Force's chief master sergeant rank insignia, with other components, such as the two stars, designed to be consistent with the senior enlisted advisor rank of the other services. The delta, orbit, and globe elements at the center of the rank were taken from the seal of the United States Space Force. However, unlike the insignia of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force which has a Laurel wreath around the central star within the rockers, the CMSSF insignia does not. [3] On 20 September 2021, new insignia for all enlisted in the Space Force was introduced, including the CMSSF. [7] [8] [9]

List of chief master sergeants of the Space Force

General John W. Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, swears in Roger A. Towberman as the first senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force while Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett looks on, April 3, 2020. Towberman named first Space Force senior enlisted advisor 200403-F-JJ904-1413.jpg
General John W. Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, swears in Roger A. Towberman as the first senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force while Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett looks on, April 3, 2020.
No.PortraitNameTerm Chief of Space Operations Ref.
Took officeLeft officeDuration
1
CMSSF Roger A. Towberman.jpg
Chief Master Sergeant
Roger A. Towberman
(born 1967/1968)
3 April 202015 September 20233 years, 165 days John W. Raymond
B. Chance Saltzman
[3] [10]
2
CMSSF John F. Bentivegna.jpg
Chief Master Sergeant
John F. Bentivegna
(born c.1976)
15 September 2023Incumbent347 days B. Chance Saltzman [11]

Timeline

John F. BentivegnaRoger A. TowbermanChief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

Heritage portraits

Former chief master sergeants of the Space Force have portraits on permanent display in the Pentagon. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief master sergeant</span> Military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force</span> Senior enlisted member of the US Air Force

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and position of office represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, unless an enlisted airman is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. The CMSAF provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. The CMSAF is appointed by the Air Force chief of staff (AF/CC) and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Air Force chief of staff and the secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergeant Major of the Army</span> Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Army

The sergeant major of the Army (SMA) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office in the United States Army. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted soldier in the Army, unless an enlisted soldier is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. The SMA is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to all officers, from warrant officers and lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of staff of the Army. The exact duties vary depending on the chief of staff, though much of the SMA's time is spent traveling throughout the Army, observing training and talking with soldiers and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman</span> Senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) is the most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) position overall in the United States Armed Forces. The SEAC is appointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Department of Defense. As such, the SEAC is the primary enlisted advisor to the chairman, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary of defense. The SEAC's exact duties vary, depending on the chairman, though the SEAC generally devotes much of their time traveling throughout the Department of Defense, to observe training and communicating to service members and their families. The SEAC's normal term of assignment runs concurrently with the chairman, but an incumbent may be reappointed to serve longer. The first member to hold this post was William Gainey. The current SEAC is Troy E. Black, USMC who assumed the duties on 3 November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau</span> Military position in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of Space Operations</span> Senior-most officer and service chief of the United States Space Force

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">John F. Bentivegna</span> US Space Force non-commissioned officer

John F. Bentivegna is a United States Space Force chief master sergeant who serves as the second and current chief master sergeant of the United States Space Force. He previously served as the senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear and senior enlisted leader of Space Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Force Delta</span> Official logo of the United States Space Force

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structure of the United States Space Force</span> Structure of the U.S. Space Force

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leadership of Space Operations Command</span> U.S. Space Force field commander

The commander of Space Operations Command is a lieutenant general who leads the field command that provide space forces to the United States Space Command and supports other unified combatant commands. A senior leader in the Space Force, it is only one of three field commanders and, of which, only one of two held by a lieutenant general.

References

  1. "A $1.8 Million Home for Space Force's Top Enlisted Leader Is Included in the 2023 Budget Request". www.military.com. 29 April 2022.
  2. "Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) - Effective January 1, 2023".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Keller, MSgt Sara (3 April 2020). "CMSgt Towberman sworn in as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor for the U.S. Space Force". United States Space Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Novelly, Thomas (28 April 2023). "Here Are the 5 Candidates Who Could Be the Space Force's Next Top Enlisted Leader". Military.com.
  5. Pawlyk, Oriana (29 January 2021). "These Are the Official Space Force Ranks". Military.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. "Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna selected as next Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Space". United States Space Force. 8 May 2023.
  7. SpaceForceDOD Twitter, "Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman announced today the new design of the #SpaceForce's enlisted rank insignia."
  8. Hadley, Greg (20 September 2021). "Space Force Reveals Insignia for Enlisted Ranks". airforcemag.com. Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  9. Toropin, Konstantin (20 September 2021). "The Space Force Finally Has Its Own Rank Insignia". Military.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  10. "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE SPACE FORCE ROGER A. TOWBERMAN". www.spaceforce.mil.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOHN F. BENTIVEGNA". www.spaceforce.mil.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. "SecAF unveils portrait of first CMSSF". United States Space Force . 12 July 2024.