CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT RONALD R. THOMPSON

CMSgt Ronald R. Thompson is the Command Chief for the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, AZ.  He serves a critical role on the Command Team as a key strategist, operational advisor, tactical partner, mentor, and advocate for the overall mission while leading more than 6,700 Airmen in the Air Force’s largest fighter wing.  This Command Team is responsible for 4 Groups, 28 Squadrons, a $200M budget, a $2.4B economic impact to the local economy, $10B in F-15, F-16, and F35A Lightning II aircraft, servicing 102,000 medical beneficiaries, and both the Gila Bend Auxiliary Field as well as the Barry M. Goldwater Range spanning over 1.7 million acres.  Additionally, Chief Thompson continues to maintain his individual readiness as a Special Operations capable Pararescue specialist, precision parachutist, combat diver, and Paramedic.

Chief Thompson entered the Air Force from Phoenix, Arizona in 1991.  He graduated from the weather observer specialist course at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois in August 1991.  In 1994, Chief Thompson reclassified into the Pararescue career field.  His experience includes various duties at the unit, Task Force, and headquarters level encompassing numerous joint tactical, operational, and strategic leadership roles.  He has lead teams in special operations, operational campaign planning, joint acquisitions and requirements, test and evaluation, marketing and community outreach, talent acquisition and development, education and training, and was a member of the STARS Parachute Demonstration Team.  Chief Thompson has deployed in advance of combat operations to collaborate, coordinate, and plan joint activities.  He has led teams in the complex execution of combat operations where he brought together highly matrixed joint mission partners to repeatedly ensure mission success with numerous combat and humanitarian missions to his credit to include Personnel Recovery for Operation Red Wings and Hurricane Katrina.  His assignments include bases in Arizona, California, Florida, Japan, Korea, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington D.C.  He has deployed 19 times for Joint Chief of Staff directed exercises and contingencies as well as Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, NOBLE EAGLE, Task Force Dagger, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and UPHOLD PROMISE.

Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Air Force Chief of Staff’s Focus Area #2: “Strengthening Joint Leaders and Teams”, developing human capital management strategies impacting over 600,000 total force Airmen.
 

EDUCATION

1997  Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan
2001  Associate degree, Weather Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2002  Associate degree, Pararescue, Community College of the Air Force
2004  Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, FL
2006  Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course
2007  Associate degree, Instructor in Technology Military Science, Community College of the Air Force
2008  Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, AFB, AL
2012  Bachelors of Science, Liberal Arts, Excelsior College
2012  Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I
2013  Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, FL
2016  Master of Science in Management (Leadership), Excelsior College
2017  Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
2017  Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina