David R. Wolfe

David R. Wolfe is a senior noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force, who has served as the 21st Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force since December 8, 2025. Wolfe has served in the U.S. Air Force since enlisting in 1992, serving mainly as a Security Forces Airman, which is the U.S. Air Force version of military police. He succeeded Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Flosi, who announced his retirement in September 2025 due to the death of his wife.

Wolfe served in a number of joint assignments with other U.S. military services. He deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Wolfe sees China as the most important threat to the United States currently.

In February 2026, Wolfe testified to the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee stating that airmen's quality of life including childcare and housing is a national security and readiness issue.

Controversies

On January 30, 2026, CMSAF Wolfe and the USAF Chief of Staff issued a memo instructing Air Force Security personnel manning the base gates to use, “Professional greetings—at installation entry control points and throughout interactions with the public." This quickly opened up the airmen to ridicule with both airmen and civilians saying that the greetings were unneeded and "dumb."

Education

Wolfe was the distinguished graduate of the Airman Leadership School in Aviano, Italy in 1997. He completed his associates of police science from the Community College of the Air Force in 1999, a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Wayland Baptist University in 2004, a masters of strategic leadership from University of Charleston in 2018 and a second masters of political science from Virginia Tech in 2020.

Assignments and achievements

CMSAF Wolfe joined the Air Force in 1992 attending Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base. He became a Security Forces Airman and was stationed at Warren AFB, King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Ramstein AB, Naples, Italy, Clear Air Force Station, and Elmendorf AFB. As a Noncommissioned Officer, he would be the 11th Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in 2008. He would continue to be promoted, rising to Command Chief Master Sergeant, 3rd Wing in 2016 and Senior Enlisted Leader, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Alaskan Command in 2018 among other assignments.

Awards and decorations

Personal life

Wolfe is married to Dr. Doniel Wolfe, and has one daughter and grandchildren. He is the son of Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Thomas R. Wolfe, a combat photographer with the 6th Photographic Technical Squadron, who documented the aftermath of the atomic bomb tests as well as photographs in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bombings.