First USAF CMSAF Dies

[Eclipse]

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123139307

So if he was the first, what was the top enlisted spot called before then?

[PHall]

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123139307

So if he was the first, what was the top enlisted spot called before then?

There was no top enlisted spot before him.  All of the MAJCOM's had their Senior Enlisted Advisor's, but there was no Senior Enlisted Advisor at the Chief of Staff of the Air Force level.

[PaulR]

Now there is a role model!

[Gunner C]

I believe that he was the driving force behind Air Force E-9s being addressed as "Chief".  Before that, they were "sergeant" just like every other NCO in the AF.  WIWAC at Elmendorf AFB, he came through there for a visit on the way to Southeast Asia.  He was afforded a staff car, driver, and a CMSAF plate.  He was empressive.  I happened to be at the Elmendorf MAC terminal eating lunch after a CAP activity.  I'd never heard a CMSgt addressed as Chief before.  He stopped and talked to the troops who were on the way back from SEA, asking them questions about how things were going, etc.

It was later that week when the base paper published a story about him detailing his WW2 service in bombers.  I saw a side of NCOs that I'd never seen and he made an impression on my young mind full of mush.