CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT AUSTIN T. WINEGARDNER
CMSgt Austin T. Winegardner serves as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the “Forward Edge,” 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. As the Command Chief, he serves as the principal enlisted leader to the 36th Wing Commander on all matters affecting the health, welfare, morale, utilization, readiness, training, and professional development for over 8,000 military and civilian personnel. Additionally, Chief Winegardner coordinates with senior military leaders and Guam community partners throughout the Joint Region Marianas to support INDO-PACOM’s bomber task force, theater security package and other multi-service mission partners.
Chief Winegardner grew up in Farber, Missouri and enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 2007. He has served in various roles in the Civil Engineer Squadron to include being the Heavy Repair/Operations Flight Superintendent, Additional Duty First Sergeant and Senior Enlisted Leader. His assignments include South Korea, Italy, Guam, Fort Leonard Wood, Japan, and Illinois. Chief Winegardner has also deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD, and FREEDOM SENTINEL. Prior to his current position he served as the Airfields Superintendent, 554 RED HORSE Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam.
EDUCATION
2011 Airman Leadership School, Andersen AFB, Guam
2012 Associate of Science, Construction Technology,
Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama
2016 Associate of Science, Instructor of Military Science and Technology,
Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama
2016 Bachelors of Science, Business Administration, University of Maryland
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I Correspondence Course
2017 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Correspondence Course
2020 Master’s Degree, Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland
2020 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2022 Joint Engineer Operations Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2007 - January 2008, – Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2. January 2008 - May 2008, – Student, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
3. May 2008 - May 2009, – Pavement and Construction Equipment Apprentice, Kunsan AB, South Korea
4. May 2009 - May 2011, – Pavement and Construction Equipment Apprentice, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
(Deployed December 2009 – July 2010, Pavement and Equipment Journeyman, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
5. May 2011 - May 2014, – Pavement & Construction Equipment Journeyman/Craftsman, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
6. May 2014 - May 2018, – Pavements and Equipment Technical Training Instructor/Instructor Supervisor, 364th Training Squadron, Detachment 1, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
7. May 2018 - July 2021, – NCOIC, Airfield Maintenance, Superintendent, Unaccompanied Housing & Housing Flight, 18th/718th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
8. July 2021 - Oct 2022, – Superintendent, Heavy Repair, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott AFB, Illinois
9. October 2022 - April 2023, – Superintendent, Engineering Flight, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Scott AFB, Illinois
(Deployed April 2023 - October 2023, Superintendent, Operations Flight, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia)
10. October 2023 - July 2024, – Superintendent, Operations Flight, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Scott AFB, Illinois
11. July 2024 – January 2025, – Superintendent, Airfields, 554 RED HORSE Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
12. January 2025 – May 2026, – Senior Enlisted Leader, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
13. May 2026 – Present, Interim Command Chief, 36th Wing, Andersen AFB, Guam
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leave cluster
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2016 NCO Instructor of the Year, 1st Engineer Brigade
2017 U.S. Army Engineer School NCO Instructor of the Year
2017 Fort Leonard Wood Instructor of the Year-NCO
2017 Air Force Sergeant Association Legislative Representative of the Year, Fort Leonard Wood
2017 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2017 U.S. Army Master Instructor
2018 AETC Master Instructor
2018 Lance P Sijan Nominee, 18th Civil Engineer Group
2023 DoD Spirit of Hope Nominee, 375th Mission Support Group
2023 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, 375th Air Mobility Wing
2023 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing
2023 Air Mobility Command Lance P. Sijan Nominee
2023 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, 375th Air Mobility Wing
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2025
(Current as of May 2026)