CMSgt Christopher Tanner is the Senior Enlisted Leader, 14th Operations Group, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He is responsible for ensuring the health, welfare and operational readiness of 8 squadrons and 1,250 Total Force Airmen responsible for supporting and training over 300 students per year enrolled in Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. Chief Tanner provides operational leadership and management of the Air Force’s busiest air traffic base, consisting of 232 aircraft and air traffic control of 210,000 aircraft movements per year.
CMSgt Tanner entered the Air Force in August 2000. He graduated from the Aircraft Armament Systems course and served as a Weapons Load Crew Chief. In 2005, CMSgt Tanner retrained to become a Weather Forecaster. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of positions supporting both the Air Force and Army. He has held multiple Squadron, Group, and Wing level positions in both Air Force and Army commands. His assignments have included bases in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Illinois, Germany, Louisiana, South Korea, Virginia, and Kentucky. Chief Tanner has deployed multiple times to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and led combat weather teams supporting IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and NOBLE EAGLE. Prior to his current position, he served as Senior Enlisted Leader, 26th Operational Weather Squadron.
EDUCATION
2005 Airman Leadership School, Scott AFB, Ill.
2013 Associate of Weather Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2019 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 Chief Leadership Academy, Maxwell Gunter Annex, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 2000 – Oct 2000, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. Oct 2000 – Mar 2001, Student, Aircraft Armament Systems Training, Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
3. Mar 2001 – Sept 2004, Weapons Load Crew Member/Chief, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
(Mar 2003 – Jun 2003, Weapons Crew Member, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia)
4. Sept 2004 – May 2005, Student, Weather Forecaster Training, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
5. May 2005 – Dec 2008, Senior Duty Officer, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
6. Jan 2009 – Jan 2012, Battlefield Weather Forecaster, Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany
(Apr 2009 – Nov 2009, Battlefield Weather Forecaster, Camp Adder, Iraq)
(Apr 2011 – Nov 2011, NCOIC Brigade Combat Team, FOB Pasab, Afghanistan)
7. Jan 2012 – Feb 2015, NCOIC Weather Flight, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
8. Feb 2015 – Feb 2016, NCOIC Mission Integration, Camp Humphrey’s Army Airfield, South Korea
9. Mar 2016 – Nov 2018, Flight Chief, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. Nov 2018 – Jul 2021, Branch Manager, Contingency/Readiness, ACC Weather Operations Division, Langley AFB, Va.
11. Aug 2021 – Aug 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, Detachment 4, 18 Combat Weather Squadron, Fort Campbell, Ky.
12. Aug 2022 – Nov 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
13. Nov 2023 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 58th Aircraft Maintenance Airman of the Year
2003 33rd Fighter Wing Maintenance Airman of the Year
2007 AFWA American Legion Spirit of Service Award
2010 435th Air Ground Operations Wing NCO of the Year
2011 USAFE Battlefield Weather NCO of the Year
2013 Commandant Leadership Award, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2013 14th Flying Training Wing NCO of the Year
2019 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2020 Air Combat Command (ACC) Weather SNCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant - 1 Oct 2022
(Current as of April 2024)