Chief Master Sgt. Steve A. Nichols is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California. He is the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning the morale, welfare, health and discipline of more than 4,100 enlisted men and women. The wing is responsible for conducting operations and support activities associated with the worldwide air mobility mission. The wing’s assigned aircraft include the C-5, KC-10 and C-17. These airframes participate in air, land and aerial refueling taskings, responding to Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed combat operations, and support U.S. State Department-sponsored humanitarian relief efforts worldwide.
Chief Nichols was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and part of an Air Force family. He graduated from Gwinn High School while his father was station at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. He entered the Air Force in February 1994 and his background includes security police and various duties in personnel management at base level, Major Command, and Headquarters Air Force. His deployment experience includes support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Before assuming his current position, Chief Nichols served as the Superintendent, 11th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Andrews-NAF Washington, Maryland.
EDUCATION
1998 - Airman Leadership School, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
2003 - Associate of Applied Science Degree in Personnel Admin, Community College of the Air Force
2004 - Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
2006 - Baccalaureate Degree, Business Administration & Management, Wayland Baptist University, Texas
2008 - Arc of Crisis: Understanding the Challenges to US National Security, Washington D.C.
2008 - Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama
2011 – Security Cooperation Management Overseas Course, DISAM, Wright-Patt Air Force Base, Ohio
2011 – Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2013 – Masters of Business Administration, Trident University International, Cypress, California
2015 – Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pennslyvania
2016 – USAF Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, North Carolina
2016 – USAF Regional Seminar for China and East Asia, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Feb 94 – Mar 94, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. Mar 94 - Apr 94, student, Air Force Police Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
3. May 94 – Jun 97, Response Force Leader, 50th Security Police Squadron, Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado (Nov 94 - Feb 95 Deployed to 4404th SPS, Dhahran AB, Saudi Arabia)
4. Jul 97 – Aug 97, student, Basic Personnel Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
5. Sep 97 – May 99, Retirement & Separation Counselor, 76 Mission Support Sq, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
6. Jun 99 – Mar 01, NCOIC Promotions & Special Actions, 76 Mission Support Sq, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
7. Apr 01 – Apr 04, NCOIC Command Promotion & Evaluations, HQ AFMC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
8. May 04 – Sep 07, NCOIC Enlisted Promotion Management Section, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas (Feb - Aug 2007 Deployed to MNF-I ACCE Camp Victory, Iraq)
9. Oct 07 – Mar 08, NCOIC, Operations & Support CEM Assignments, HQ USAF/A1, Chiefs Group, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. Apr 08 – Oct 10, Special Assistant to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. Nov 10 – Jul 12 Command Enlisted Engagements Manager, HQ PACAF/A5, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
12. Aug 12 – Nov 13, Chief Enlisted Force Policy Branch, HQ USAF/A1, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. Dec 13 – Jul 16, 11th Mission Support Group Superintendent, Joint Base Andrews-NAF Washington, Maryland (Jul 14–Jan 15 Deployed as Supt, 449 AEG, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti)
14. Jul 16 – Present, Command Chief, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf cluster
Air ForceRecognition Ribbon National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star
Iraqi Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 – 76th Mission Support Squadron Airman of the Year
2000 - Kelly AFB Personnel Manager of the Year (NCO)
2003 - Air Force Materiel Command Directorate of Personnel NCO of the Year
2005 - Randolph AFB NCO of the Year
2005 - Lance P. Sijan Leadership award winner for Air Force Personnel Center
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant September 1, 2012
(Current as of July 2016)