Chief Master Sgt. Craig K. Deatherage is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for United States Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force. As senior enlisted leader, he is responsible to the commander for matters relating to readiness, welfare, and effective utilization of over 44,600 enlisted members assigned to the joint services assigned to United States Forces, Japan and Fifth Air Force. Through communication with the enlisted corps, he ensures the commander's policies are known and understood, while elevating significant problems, concerns and issues. Additionally, he maintains a strong bilateral relationship with the Japanese enlisted leadership, serving to foster better understanding and improved readiness of our allied forces.

Chief Deatherage was raised in Newton, Iowa and entered the Air Force in 1982. He is a career enlisted aviator with more than 3,900 hours total flying time in the E-3A/B/C and the E-8A/C. He flew over 200 combat flying hours during Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom and served in various combat leadership roles including deployed first sergeant in Operation Allied Force, and squadron superintendent during Operation Enduring Freedom at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He was appointed to this position on July 16, 2007.

EDUCATION:
1985 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory School, Tinker AFB, Okla.
1986 Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1988 Tactical Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
1996 Associates Degree, Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
1998 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 USAF First Sergeant Academy Additional Duty Symposium
2005 Center For Creative Leadership, San Diego, Calif.
2006 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, PA

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. September 1982 - September 1985, airborne radar technician/instructor, 963rd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2. September 1985 - June 1987, airborne radar technician/instructor, 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
3. June 1987 - June 1989, standardization/evaluation flight examiner, 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
4. June 1989 - June 1994, in-flight maintenance requirements NCO in charge, Special Management Organization, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
5. June 1994 - March 1996, training flight and C-flight superintendent, 961st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
6. March 1996 - May 1999, current operations and operations superintendent, 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
7. May 1999 - May 2001, squadron superintendent, 93rd Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. May 2001 - October 2003, squadron superintendent, 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. October 2003 - December 2005, commandant, Gunter Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
10. January 2006 -July 2007, command chief master sergeant, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. July 2007 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, US Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze star devices
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal (Kosovo)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
1984 Honor Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory School, Tinker AFB, Okla.
1986 World Affairs Award, Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1988 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
1996 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 961st Airborne Command and Control Squadron,
Kadena AB, Japan
1998 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 93rd Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.
1999 Inducted as Honorary First Sergeant, 60th Air Expeditionary Wing, Rhein-Main AB, Germany
1999 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 93rd Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class Jan. 18, 1982
Senior Airman June 1, 1984
Sergeant June 1, 1985
Staff Sergeant July 1, 1985
Technical Sergeant Sept. 27, 1988
Master Sergeant Nov. 1, 1993
Senior Master Sergeant Dec. 1, 1998
Chief Master Sergeant Oct. 1, 2001 

(Current as of July 2007)