CMSgt Noel S. Price is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana. Chief Price is the primary adviser to the commander on all enlisted issues including the health, welfare, morale, mission effectiveness and proper utilization of more than 1,900 men and women. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command with two flying squadrons operating 16 aircraft. The 434th ARW also has a unique role supporting both the Single Integrated Operational Plan and conventional tanker missions.
Chief Price enlisted in the Air Force in Lenoir City, Tenn. After eight years, he left active duty and later joined the Air Force Reserve in 2003. He was assigned to the 944th Fuel Systems as a Traditional Reservist, and as an Air Reserve Technician Oct 2004. During his career Chief Price has been a part of multiple Total Force Associations, two of which he was a part of the initial cadre. He has been a maintainer on the C-5, KC-135, A-10, HH-60, F-16 and F-35. Prior to his current assignment Chief Price served as the the 419th Accessories Flight Chief as well as the Maintenance Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader for the 489th Maintenance Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
2003 Airman Leadership School, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2004 Associate in Applied Science, Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Bachelor of Science, Healthcare Management, Park University, Parkville, Mo.
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2009 Military Personnel Management Course, Moody AFB, Ga.
2010 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2011 Professional Manager Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Webster University, Webster Grove, Mo.
2011 Combat Air Force Production Superintendent Course, Hill AFB, Utah
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Joint PME Correspondence Course
2012 Air power Course, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development
2012 Marine Corps Staff NCO Academy Advanced Course, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
2013 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Hill AFB, Utah
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Joint PME II Correspondence Course
2017 Navy Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Newport, R.I.
2018 International Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Facilitator’s Course, March ARB, Calif.
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2019 NATO NCO Advanced Leadership Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2019 Team Hill Flight Commander Leadership Course, Hill AFB, Utah
2019 AFRC Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2021 Group Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Virtual
2022 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Washington D.C.
2022 Leading Strategically, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
Jan 1994-Feb 1994, Trainee, Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. Feb 1994-Apr 1994, Student, Aircraft Fuel Systems Technical School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 1994-Apr 1998, Fuel Systems Journeyman, 436th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del
4. Jun 1998-Dec 1998, Fuel Systems Journeyman, 512th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del
5. Dec 1998-Dec 2002, Fuel Systems Craftsman, 56th Maintenance Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. Feb 2003-Aug 2006, Fuel Systems Craftsman, 944th Maintenance Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
(Deployed Sep 2005-Oct 2005, Fuel System Craftsman, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron)
7. Sep 2006-Jan 2009, Fuel Systems Craftsman, 916th Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
8. Feb 2009-July 2010, Fuel Systems Section Chief, 476th Maintenance Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
9. Aug 2010-Apr, Accessories Flight Chief, 419th Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
(Deployed Oct 2014-May 2015, Accessories Flight Chief, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron)
10. May 2020 - July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 489th Maintenance Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
11. July 2024 – Present, Command Chief, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one star
Iraq Campaign Medal with one star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one oak leaf cluster Armed
Forces Reserve Medal with 1 ‘M’ Device with two oak leaf clusters
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2017 SNCO of the Year, 419th Maintenance Squadron
2017 Lt. Gen Leo Marquez Supervisor Manager of the Year, 419th Maintenance Group
2018 SNCO of the Year, 419th Maintenance Squadron
2018 SNCO of the Year, 419th Maintenance Group
2018 SNCO of the Year, 419th Fighter Wing
2019 STEP promotion to Chief Master Sergeant
(CURRENT AS OF 7 AUGUST 2024)