Gerald R. Murray

Gerald R. Murray
14th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (2002-2006)
Born (1956-01-18) January 18, 1956
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Air Force
Years of service 1977–2006
Rank Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Battles/wars Operation Desert Storm
Operation Southern Watch
Awards Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal(4)
Air Force Commendation Medal (2)
Air Force Achievement Medal

Gerald R. Murray (born January 18, 1956) was the 14th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. Chief Murray served in the United States Air Force from 1977 to 2006, retiring after 29 years of distinguished service.

Biography

Chief Murray grew up in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, and entered the Air Force in October 1977. His background includes various duties in aircraft maintenance and as a Command Chief Master Sergeant at wing, numbered air force and major command levels. His assignments include bases in Florida, South Carolina, Washington and Georgia. The chief also served overseas in Turkey and Japan, and deployed in support of operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. Before becoming Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, he served as Command Chief Master Sergeant, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Murray was appointed to the position of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force on July 1, 2002. Chief Murray was the 14th Chief Master Sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position. Murray retired on October 1, 2006 after 29 years of service.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. He serves 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 progress of the enlisted force.[1]

Education

Assignments

  1. October 1977 - December 1977, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
  2. December 1977 - February 1978, student, Aircraft Maintenance Technology Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
  3. February 1978 - October 1981, aircraft crew chief, 13th Fighter Squadron, 56th Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
  4. October 1981 - April 1984, aircraft maintenance instructor, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
  5. April 1984 - May 1986, senior F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, 39th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
  6. May 1986 - July 1992, aircraft production superintendent, 353rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 354th Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C. (August 1990 March 1991, production superintendent, 354th Wing [Provisional], King Fahd International Airport and King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia)
  7. July 1992 - December 1994, Superintendent, Maintenance Flight, 354th Fighter Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
  8. December 1994 - April 1996, Maintenance Superintendent, 70th Fighter Squadron, 347th Wing, Moody AFB, Ga. (December 1995 March 1996, Maintenance Superintendent, 70th Fighter Squadron, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait)
  9. April 1996 - August 1999, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 347th Wing, Moody AFB, Ga. (November 1997 March 1998, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 347th Wing (Provisional) Sheikh Isa AB, Bahrain)
  10. September 1999 - August 2001, Command Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
  11. August 2001 - June 2002, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  12. July 2002 - June 2006, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Awards and decorations

Master Maintenance Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.

Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
V

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster

Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Bronze star

Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes

National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Bronze star

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star
Bronze star
Bronze star

Width-44 ribbon with the following stripes, arranged symmetrically from the edges to the center: width-2 black, width-4 chamois, width-2 Old Glory blue, width-2 white, width-2 Old Glory red, width-6 chamouis, width-3 myrtle green up to a central width-2 black stripe

Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars

Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster

Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster

Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf cluster

NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other Achievements

Effective dates of promotion

Rank Date
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceJuly 1, 2002
Chief Master SergeantNovember 1, 1994
Senior Master SergeantFebruary 1, 1992
Master SergeantJuly 1, 1987
Technical SergeantJuly 1, 1984
Staff SergeantJuly 1, 1981
SergeantOctober 1, 1980
Senior AirmanOctober 1, 1979
Airman First ClassOctober 31, 1978
AirmanApril 30, 1978
           Airman BasicOctober 1977

See also

Notes

  1. Official U.S. Air Force biography.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6561".

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Frederick J. Finch
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
20022006
Succeeded by
Rodney J. McKinley
Effective 1 July 2006
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