CMSgt Lebaron M. King is the Command Chief for the 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. As the command chief, he is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander on all matters impacting the health, welfare, training and expeditionary readiness of more than 2,000 total force personnel. Additionally, he supports the Air Force and allied officers in the Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. He provides guidance and expertise on enlisted force development to 3 groups, 24 squadron commanders and the Wing Staff Agency Chief. Columbus Air Force Base hosts Air Education and Training Command's largest fleet composed of 231 aircraft flying more than 53,000 sorties and 76,000 hours per year while training over 330 pilots annually.
Prior to this assignment, Chief King served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Congressional and Public Affairs Division, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia. In this capacity, Chief King served in a 1-year special appointment by the Deputy Surgeon General to codify Force development and career broadening opportunities in support of 19 Career Field Managers and 34,000 enlisted medics. Additionally, Chief King provided legislative guidance to the Air Force Surgeon General, Chief of Congressional and Public Affairs, and the enlisted medical workforce.
Throughout his military career, he has filled a myriad of leadership roles across 4 Major Commands at the Squadron, Headquarter and Air Staff levels. His previous duties include Senior Enlisted Leader, Congressional and Public Affairs Division, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, 4H0X1 Major Command Functional Manager, additional First Sergeant, Airman Leadership and Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Course Manager, Research and Development Specialist, Joint Staff Legislative Affairs internship, and Senator John Boozman (AR) Defense Fellow. He deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as a Respiratory Therapist in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM campaigns.
Chief King is a native of Mobile, Alabama and entered the Air Force Reserve in May 2001. After successfully graduating from the Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Apprentice Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas he enlisted into active duty in October 2003.
EDUCATION
2003 Certification in Respiratory Therapy, National Board of Respiratory Care, Overland Park, Kan.
2005 Airman Leadership School, Andrews AFB, Md.
2010 Bachelor of Science with Respiratory Therapy Concentration, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2012 Associate of Applied Science in Cardiopulmonary Lab Technology, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Calif.
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson ANG Base, Tenn.
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I Correspondence Course
2013 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2015 Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF
2016 Dale Carnegie Leadership Training for Managers Course, Montgomery, Ala.
2016 Facilitated Online Distance Learning Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Correspondence Course
2017 United State Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy (SNCOA), Petaluma, Calif.
2017 Instructional Systems Development Certification, CCAF
2019 Master of Science in Homeland Security Emergency Management, Auburn University of Montgomery, Montgomery, Ala.
2020 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, Texas
2020 AFPC Squadron Commander and Superintendent Course, San Antonio, Texas
2022 Combined Senior Leader Orientation Course, Falls Church, Va.
2022 Certification in Legislative Studies, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, DC
2023 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations Executive Program, John Hopkins University, Md.
2024 Registry in Respiratory Therapy, National Board of Respiratory Care, Overland Park, Kan.
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 2001 – Oct. 2001, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
- November 2001 – Feb. 2002, Cardiopulmonary Lab Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
- March 2002 – Oct. 2002, Cardiopulmonary Lab Apprentice Course Phase II, Sheppard AFB, Texas
- November 2002 – May 2003, Cardiopulmonary Technician, 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
- October 2003 – June 2009, Assistant NCOIC Cardiopulmonary, 779th Medical Group, Andrews AFB, Md.
- June 2004 – Sept 2004 Deployed as a Cardiopulmonary Technician to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
- June 2009 – Nov. 2010 NCOIC, Cardiopulmonary Services, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, Texas
- December 2010 – Jan. 2015, NCOIC, Internal Medicine Branch, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- February 2015 – Jan. 2019, Manager, USAF EPME Programs, Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
- February 2019 – May 2021, Superintendent 99th Surgical Operations Squadron, 99th Medical Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- June 2021 – Dec. 2022, Air Force Defense Legislative Fellow, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- January 2023 – May 2024, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Budget) Congressional Appropriations, Pentagon, Arlington, VA.
- June 2024 – June 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, Office of the Surgeon General Congressional and Public Affairs, Falls Church, Va.
- July 2025 – present, Command Chief, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air and Space Force Expeditionary Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Developmental Special Duty Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
2006 79th Medical Operations Squadron NCO of the Year
2007 Air Force District of Washington Cardiopulmonary NCO of the Year
2007 316th Air Wing CMSgt Timothy M. Dickens Ceremonial Guardsman of the Year
2008 79th Medical Wing John Salustro Cardiopulmonary NCO of the Year
2009 711th Human Performance Wing John Salustro Cardiopulmonary NCO of the Year
2010 Air Force Material Command John Salustro Cardiopulmonary NCO of the Year
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2016 Academic Affairs Directorate SNCO of the Year, Barnes Center for Enlisted Education
2017 Academic Affairs Directorate Tuskegee SNCO of the Year, Barnes Center for Enlisted Education
2018 Head Quarters Barnes Center for Enlisted Education Lance P. Sijan SNCO of the Year
2021 USAF Warfare Center, Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award Nominee
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant, October 1, 2022
(Current as of July 2025)