Cody entered the United States Air Force in November 1984. He graduated from the air traffic control specialist course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in May 1985. His background includes various duties in air traffic control at the unit and major-command levels. Throughout his career, he has filled myriad roles including additional-duty first sergeant and Directorate Superintendent. His assignments include bases in New Hampshire, California, Virginia, and Florida. He also served overseas in Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

Prior to assuming his last position, Cody served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

1987 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

1989 Air Force Communications Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

1993 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course

1995 USAFE Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

1997 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course

1998 Associate degree airway science, Community College of the Air Force

2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

2005 Chief's Leadership Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

2005 United States Air Force Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, California

2006 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

2008 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course

2008 AFSO 21 Executive Leadership Course, Disney Institute, Orlando, Florida

2009 Keystone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

2010 COMAFFOR Senior Staff Course, United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, New Jersey

2010 United States Air Force Enterprise Management Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia

2012 Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, Trident University International, Cypress, California

1. November 1984 – January 1985, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1985 – June 1985, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
3. June 1985 – June 1988, Air Traffic Controller, 1964th CG, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. June 1988 – January 1991, ATC Watch Supervisor, 1916th CS, Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire
5. January 1991 – May 1993, ATC Watch Supervisor, 30th OSS, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
6. May 1993 – May 1994, ATC Watch Supervisor, 51st OSS, Osan Air Base, South Korea
7. June 1994 – June 1996, Superintendent, Airfield Operations Training, 39th OSS, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
8. June 1996 – March 2000, Superintendent, Airfield Operations, Readiness/Training, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
9. March 2000 – May 2003, Chief Controller, Tower, 1st Sergeant, 6th OSS, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (April 2002 – Jul 2002, Superintendent, Combat Airspace Management Cell, Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
10. June 2003 – July 2005, Superintendent, Directorate of Air and Space Operations and ATC Functional Manager, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
11. July 2005 – August 2007, Command Chief, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Travis Air Force Base, California
12. Aug 2007 – July 2008, Command Chief, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
13. July 2008 – Sep 2010, Command Chief, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
14. Sep 2010 – January 2013, Command Chief, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio/Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
15. January 2013 – February 2017, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Other achievements edit

1994 PACAF ORI Outstanding Performer

1994 39th Air Base Wing NCO of the Year

1995 John L. Levitow Award, NCO Academy

1995 USAFE ATC Training Achievement Award

1995 STEP promotion to Master Sergeant

1997 ACC Director of Air and Space Operations SNCO of the Year

2001 Distinguished Graduate, SNCO Academy

2001 AMC Air Traffic Control Enlisted Manager of the Year

2001 Tampa Bay Military Citizen of the Year

2001 Air Mobility Command SNCO of the Year

  This article incorporates public domain material from USAF Biography: Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody. United States Air Force.