Sam Parish

Sam E. Parish
8th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (1983-1986)
Born	(1937-10-02) October 2, 1937 Marianna, Florida
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1955 - 1986 (30 years)
Rank	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Awards	See below

Sam E. Parish (born October 2, 1937) was the eighth Chief Master Sergeant appointed to the highest Non-commissioned officer position in the United States Air Force.

Military career

On Feb. 22, 2013, CMSAF Sam Parish congratulates Civilian Supervisor of the Year Category 2 Award Winner Annette Terry at Malmstron Air Force Base.

On Feb 22, 2013, CMSAF Sam Parish speaks to members of Team Malmstrom during the 2012 Annual Awards Banquet at the Grizzly Bend on Feb. 22, 2013.

Chief Parish was born in Marianna, Florida, and attended Malone High School. He joined the US Air Force in December 1954. Following basic military training, he was assigned to Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, for training as a ground weather equipment operator where earned distinction as an honor graduate. His early assignments include Germany, Massachusetts, and Illinois. In March 1973, Chief Parish graduated from the first class of the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Gunter Air Force Station, Alabama. One of his classmates was James M. McCoy, who in August 1979 would be appointed as one of Chief Parish's predecessors, the sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. In August 1976, he began his third tour of duty in West Germany as Sergeant Major for the 36th Combat Support Group consolidated base personnel office at Bitburg Air Base, Germany. His career includes tours as Senior Enlisted Advisor for 40th Air Division, US Air Forces in Europe, and Strategic Air Command.

CMSAF Parish served as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from August 1983 to June 1986.

To this day, CMSAF continues to travel around the world as well as speaking for ALS (Airman Leadership School for up-and-coming Staff Sergeants) around the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Unit awards
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster
Service awards
	Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Army Good Conduct Medal
Campaign and service medals
	National Defense Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
	NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

Professional memberships and associations

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions

Rank	Date
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	August 1, 1983

Succession

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam Parish.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Sam E. Parish biography".

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