Chief Master Sergeant Kathleen M. McCool is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Hawaii. In this position, she serves 46,000 Airmen, while advising the Commander, Pacific Air Forces on all matters including readiness, training, professional development, and effective utilization of personnel and resources. She coordinates with the headquarters staff to ensure all command policy is implemented appropriately.
CMSgt McCool grew up in Buckeye, AZ, and enlisted in the Air Force in 1995. She began her career as a Health Services Management Apprentice and then became an MTI. During her tenure as an MTI she was selected as a Blue Rope Master Military Training Instructor. She then left MTI duty to become a recruiter. While a recruiter she held numerous positions culminating in her assignment as Squadron Superintendent. She has held several senior enlisted advisor positions at the Squadron, Group and Wing levels. Prior to her current assignment she was the Command Chief Master Sergeant for Second Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.
EDUCATION
1995 Health Services Management Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1999 Military Training Instructor Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2000 Airmen Leadership School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2001 Academic Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2003 Associate of Applied Science Instructor of Technology and Military Science CCAF
2004 Professional Selling Skills, Achieve Global
2005 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2006 Associate of Applied Science Health Services Management Apprentice CCAF
2006 Associate of Applied Science Human Resource Management CCAF
2006 Master Instructor Certification, AETC
2007 Professional Sales Coaching and Applications, Achieve Global
2009 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Alabama
2010 Bachelor of Science, Occupational Education, Wayland Baptist University
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Continuous Process Improvement Course for Senior Leaders, JBSA
2016 Chief Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Alabama (senior mentor)
2016 Master of Arts, Management, Wayland Baptist University
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (I) Correspondence Course
2016 Command Chief Course, JBSA-Randolph
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (11) Correspondence Course
2018 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2019 Strategic Deterrence Basic Course for Executives, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2020 Keystone, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2021 China, East Asia, Oceania, and INDO-PACOM, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2021 Indo-Pacific Orientation Course, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
2022 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC, Chapel Hill
2022 Resilience Building Leadership Program Trainer Certification, Courageous Leadership Alliance
ASSIGNMENTS
1.December 1995 – January 1999, Health Services Management Apprentice, Luke AFB, Arizona
2.January 1999 – January 2002, Military Training Instructor, Lackland AFB, Texas
3.January 2002 – March 2004, Instructor, Military Training Instructor School, Lackland AFB, Texas
4.March 2004 – April 2006, Enlisted Accessions Recruiter, 341 RCS, Lackland AFB, Texas
5.April 2006 – January 2007, Health Professions Recruiter, 341 RCS, Lackland AFB, Texas
6.January 2007 – July 2010, Enlisted Accessions Flight Chief, 369 RCS, West Covina, California
7.July 2010 – September 2011, Superintendent, Recruiter Screening Team, HQ AFRS, Randolph AFB, Texas
8.September 2011 – February 2013, Production Superintendent, 319 RCS, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
9.February 2013 – September 2013, Squadron Superintendent, 319 RCS, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
10.September 2013 – May 2014, Squadron Superintendent, 320th Training Squadron, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
11.May 2014 – May 2015, Squadron Superintendent, 323rd Training Squadron, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
12.June 2015 – June 2017, Group Superintendent, 502 SFLSG (re-named SRG), JBSA-Randolph AFB, Texas
13.July 2017 – June 2018, Student Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
14.June 2018 – April 2019, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida
15.May 2019 – October 2020, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
16.November 2020 – June 2022, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Fifth Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan
17.June 2022– Aug 2023 Command Chief Master Sergeant, Second Air Force, Keesler AFB, MS
18.Feb 2024 – Current, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star device
Global War on Terrorism Defense Medal
Outstanding Airman of the Year with bronze star device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Health Services Management Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1998 Airman of the Year, 59th Medical Group, Luke AFB, Arizona
1998 Air Force Sergeants Association Division 12, Airman of the Year
1999 Honor Graduate, Military Training Instructor School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2000 John Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2002 Junior Instructor of the Year, 37 Training Group, Lackland AFB, Texas
2003 AETC Top Tech First Place Instructor
2004 AETC Master Instructor
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Recruiting School
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2005 Commandant’s Award, Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2005 AFRS “Blue Suit” Top 12 Recruiters in Nation
2006 AFRS Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2008 AFRS Commanders Achievement Award
2009 John Levitow Award, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2011 Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant 1 December 2012
(Current as of Jan 2024)