Chief Master Sergeant Michael J. Klebes is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The wing is comprised of 2,100 personnel, two airfields, two groups, and eleven squadrons; including two combat coded F-22 fighter squadrons, the sole F-22 fighter training unit, a T-38 fighter training squadron, and a training support squadron detachment supporting Air Combat Command. Chief Klebes is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander on all aspects of employment, readiness, training, resilience, and professional development of the force. The 1st Fighter Wing executes worldwide rapid deployment and employment of F-22 air dominance fighters in support of Combatant Commander taskings.
Chief Klebes was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Air Force in December 1997 as an Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice. Throughout his career, he has filled a myriad of roles including Flight-Line, Flying Crew Chief, Isochronal Inspection, Section Chief, Production Superintendent, Weapons System Program Manager, Quality Assurance Superintendent, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent, Squadron Superintendent, and Group Superintendent on over fourteen aircraft. He has also filled special duties as a Recruiter, First Sergeant, and as an Inspector General Superintendent. His assignments include bases in Washington, Georgia, Maryland, California, Texas, Illinois, and Florida. Additionally, he has deployed in support of Operations, ALLIED FORCE, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOMS SENTINEL, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Klebes served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 479th Flying Training Group, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The Group consisted of four squadrons, 665 personnel with 45 T-6 and T-1 aircraft. The group trains over 300 Combat Systems Officers each year for the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard. Additionally, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Pensacola region supporting over 1,500 Air Force personnel.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Robins AFB, Ga.
2003 USAF Recruiting School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2008 Associate Degree in Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2008 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2008 Associate Degree in Human Resources Personnel Management, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, by correspondence
2014 United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
2014 Inspector General Training Course, Lansdowne, VA
2016 Mediation Certification, Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick AFB, Fla.
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2016 Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2019 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2019 Strategic Deterrence Basic Course for Executives, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Mobility Air Force Forces Senior Staff Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1997 – January 1998, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1998 – May 1998, Student, Aerospace Maintenance, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. January 1998 - May 2001, Aerospace Maintenance (FCC), 92 AGS Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4. May 2001 – June 2003, Aerospace Maintenance Inspector, 116 ACW, Robins AFB, Ga.
5. June 2003 – June 2006, Enlisted Accessions Recruiter, 361 Recruiting Squadron, Everett, Wash.
6. June 2006 – June 2013, Flying Crew Chief, First Sergeant 89 MXG, Andrews AFB, Md.
7. June 2013 – July 2014, Section Chief/Production Superintendent, 60 AMXS, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. July 2014 – September 2015, Inspector General Superintendent, 60 AMW, Travis AFB, Calif.
9. September 2015 – January 2017, Quality Assurance Superintendent, 60 MXG, Travis AFB, Calif.
10. January 2017 – March 2018, AMU Superintendent, 660 AMXS, Travis AFB, Calif.
(July 2017 – November 2017, Superintendent, 380 EAMXS, KC-10 AMU, Al Dhafra AB, UAE)
11. March 2018 – March 2019, AMU Superintendent, 60 AMXS, Travis AFB, Calif.
12. March 2019 – July 2019, Superintendent, 60 AMXS, Travis AFB, Calif.
13. July 2019 – July 2020, Superintendent, 7 MXG & AMXS, Dyess AFB, Texas
14. July 2020 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, HQ AMC A4, Scott AFB, Ill.
15. June 2022 – April 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 479 FTG, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
16. April 2024 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 1 Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 Airman of the Year, 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild, AFB, Wash.
2005 Enlisted Accessions Recruiter of the Year, 361st Recruiting Squadron, McChord, AFB, Wash.
2005 Air Education and Training Command Torch Bearer, Randolph AFB, Texas
2011 Lt Gen Leo Marquez Award, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
2011 Lance P. Sijan Award, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
2012 Team Andrews Additional Duty First Sergeant of the Year, Andrews AFB, Md.
2012 SNCO of the Year, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
2016 SNCO of the Year, 60th Maintenance Group, Travis AFB, Calif
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant June 1, 2018
(Current as of Apr 2024)