Chief Master Sergeant CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT CT KIRK

Chief Master Sergeant CT Kirk currently serves as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 621st Contingency Response Wing, headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey with additional forces stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California and at various Army and Marine Corps installations worldwide. He advises the commander and senior leadership on military readiness, mission effectiveness and professional development while providing assessments on operational matters. The wing deploys teams of versatile, mobility Airmen disciplined to solve problems in complex environments and build partner nation capacity. The wing's lean force of 1,500 contingency response and advisory Airmen advise, direct, and project airpower…anytime, anywhere.


CMSgt Kirk enlisted in the Air Force in 1999. He attended technical training at Fort Eustis, VA to become a helicopter Crew Chief and was initially assigned to the 16th Special Operations Wing as an MH-53 Crew Chief. He was then selected to develop a joint CV-22 training program at Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC. Following his time with the Corps, he became part of the HH-60 CSAR family while completing an overseas tour to Japan before returning to AFSOC and CV-22s as the 20 AMU Superintendent, Cannon AFB, NM. His experiences prepared him to stand up a Special Operation Group detachment in the Pacific followed by dual squadron activations at Yokota Air Base, Japan. He has served in various positions across the spectrum of maintenance operations from sortie generation, support, and back shop maintenance, to formal training and production. He has deployed seven times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and other contingency operations. Prior to his current position, Chief Kirk was the Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 621st Contingency Response Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.


EDUCATION
2004 Airman Leadership School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2004 Associate’s Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2005 Basic Instructor Course, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. 
2006 Associate’s Degree, Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Process Improvement Team Member Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2007 DOD OPSEC Officer Course, Defense Security Service Academy, Quantico, Va. 
2008 Associate of Arts, Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C.
2008 Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration, Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C
 2008 Applied Maintenance Management Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Masters of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. 
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
2010 Level II Occupational Instructor Certification, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, by correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL, by correspondence 
2012 Professional Manager Certification, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Academy Advanced Course, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va. 
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course Version II, by correspondence
2016 Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla. 
2019 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Group Superintendent Course, Montgomery, Ala. 

2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 USAF Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md. 
2022 Air Advisor Initial Qualification Course, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2022 Rapid Global Mobility Course III, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
2023 Latin America: A Political-Economic Conflict Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2023 Executive Leadership Program in Managing for Inclusion, Georgetown University, by correspondence


ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 – July 2003, MH-53 Helicopter Maintenance Apprentice, 16th Helicopter Generation Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. July 2003 – April 2005, MH-53 Inspection Area Chief, 16th Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. April 2005 – August 2010, Instructor Supervisor CV-22 Training, 360th Training Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C.
4. August 2010 – September 2014, HH-60 Production Superintendent, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
5. September 2014 – April 2018, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent, 727th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
6. April 2018 – July 2019, Maintenance Chief Enlisted Manager, 353d Special Operations Group Detachment 1, Yokota Air Base, Japan
7. July 2019 – December 2020, Superintendent, 753d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
8. December 2020 – July 2022, Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 621st Contingency Response Group, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
9. July 2022 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 621st Contingency Response Wing, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.


MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal


OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Hurlburt Field Airman Leadership School
2004 Academic Achievement Award, Hurlburt Field Airman Leadership School
2007 William H. Pitsenbarger Award
2008 Summa Cum Laude, Campbell University
2010 Cum Laude, Webster University
2013 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
2014 Honor Graduate, Marine Corps Advanced Course (SNCOA)
2015 AFSOC Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
2016 27th Special Operations Wing SNCO of the Year
2017 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Superior Achievement Award


EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant November 1, 2018

(Current as of March 2022)