Chief Master Sergeant Delmar J. Schaefers is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska. He serves as the senior enlisted leader for the ~1150 enlisted personnel and a key member of the leadership team. He is the commander’s key enlisted advocate and advisor on operational effectiveness and readiness, training, health, morale, welfare, quality of life and equipping of enlisted Airmen. The 176th Wing performs C- 17, HH60, HC130J, Guardian Angel, Air Defense, Maintenance and Support missions.
Chief Schaefers was born in South Dakota and graduated from Polo High School in Polo, South Dakota in 1981. He entered the South Dakota Army National Guard in May 1980 and served part-time with them as a Drill Status Guardsmen until June 1982 when he joined the Unites States Air Force. He served nine and a half years active duty in base communications performing Telephone Central Office Switching technician and supervisory positions. Upon separation from the United States Air Force he joined the Alaska Air National Guard to work in base communication positions to include telephone repair and installation; communication cable installation and maintenance; radio maintenance; and supervisory positions.
Prior to assuming his current position he served as the Chief Enlisted Manager of the 176th Communication Flight, assigned to the 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
EDUCATION
1982 Telephone Switching Technical Course, Shepard AFB, Texas
1985 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course, Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska
1989 Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
2000 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course
2009 Joint Operations Center Basic Course, Ft. Richardson, Alaska
2010 CompTIA Security+ Certification
2011 Contemporary Base Issues Course, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
2012 Air National Guard Chief’s Executive Course, Arlington, Virginia
2017 FEMA Incident Command System 100 Course
2017 FEMA Incident Command System 200 Course
2017 FEMA Incident Command System 700 Course
2017 FEMA Incident Command System 800 Course
2019 Associate in Applied Science Information Systems Technology, CCAF
2019 Leadership Challenge Program Level II, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson AFB, Alaska
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SEJPME I)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1980 – May 1982, Cannon Crewman, Det 1, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Miller, South Dakota (June August 1981, Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, E Battery, 3rd Cannon Training Battalion, Fort Sill, Oklahoma)
2. June 1982 – July 1982, trainee, basic military training, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. July 1982 – December 1982, Student, Telephone Central Office Switching Equipment Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. January 1983 – August 1987, Central Office Apprentice and Technician, 1931st Communications Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5. August 1987 – October 1991, Telephone Inside Plant Shift Supervisor, 1930th Communications Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
6. October 1991 – December 2006, Telephone Switching Craftsman, 176th Communications Flight, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Anchorage, Alaska (October 2001, Communications Journeyman, 176 Communications Flight, Vincenza, Italy)
7. December 2006 – April 2008, Communications Systems Superintendent, 176th Communications Flight, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Anchorage, Alaska
8. April 2008 – May 2011, Communication-Electronic Systems Chief Enlisted Manager, 176th Communications Flight, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Anchorage, Alaska
9. May 2011 – August 2018, Communication-Electronic Systems Chief Enlisted Manager, 176th Communications Flight, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (October 2017, Chief Enlisted Manager, 176th Communications Flight, Rosey Roads Airfield, Puerto Rico)
10. August 2018 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
State of Alaska Commendation Medal
State of Alaska Community Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Outstanding Unit member of the Year, 176th Communications Flight
2005 Unit Career Advisor of the Year, 176th Wing
2014 Outstanding Unit member of the Year, 176th Mission Support Group
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic June 1982
Airman December 1982
Airman First Class June 1983
Senior Airman June 1985
Sergeant July 1986
Staff Sergeant Dec 1, 1987
Technical Sergeant Oct 1, 1992
Master Sergeant March 31, 2000
Senior Master Sergeant Dec 19, 2006
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2009
(Current as of December 2020)