Chief Master Sergeant Shawn M. Aiello is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He is responsible to the commander for the operational utilization, readiness, assignment, morale and welfare of 15,000 combat-ready personnel across three main operating bases, delivering combat airpower, command and control, personnel recovery, surveillance and rapid mobility. This is accomplished through F-15, F-16, KC-135, HH-60, E-3, C-130J and DV lift mission design system platforms. CMSgt Aiello also provides senior enlisted leadership and oversight as Fifth Air Force conducts joint and bilateral planning and interoperability engagements to defend Japan and rapidly respond to regional contingencies, advancing the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance. Additionally, Fifth Air Force executes administrative authority over all U.S. Air Force forces in Japan.
CMSgt Aiello entered the Air Force in 1992. After completing basic training he qualified as a Munitions Systems Specialist and received orders to Sembach Air Base, Germany. He served in munitions assignments around the globe until 2002, when he cross-trained into intelligence. As an intelligence professional, CMSgt Aiello has served in the Republic of Korea, U.S. Air Forces Europe, Joint Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command. Additionally, he has served in multiple deployed joint Senior Enlisted Leader roles in Joint Task Forces. Prior to his Fifth Air Force assignment, he served as the Command Chief, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
1998 Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2008 U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2009 Associates in Applied Science, Communications Applications Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2012 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2013 Senior Enlisted Intelligence Master Skills Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2016 Command Chief Orientation Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2017 National Security Orientation Seminar, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
2018 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Africa Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2018 Summit Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2019 Keystone - National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
2020 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2021 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2021 Group Superintendent Course - Senior Mentor, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2021 Transnational Issues, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Combined Joint Force SOF Component Commanders Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
- October 1992 – December 1992, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
- December 1992 – February 1993, Student, Munitions Systems Specialist, Lowry AFB, Colo.
- February 1993 – April 1994, Precision Guided Munitions Crewmember, 601st Maintenance Squadron, Sembach Air Base, Germany
- April 1994 – April 1996, Storage Crewmember, 616th Munitions Squadron, Leghorn, Italy
- April 1996 – June 1998, Aircrew Training Munitions Account Custodian, 23rd Maintenance Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
- June 1998 – April 2002 Munitions Controller, 86th Maintenance Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
- April 2002 – September 2002, Student, Intelligence Applications, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- September 2002 – November 2003, NCOIC, Intelligence Applications Division, National Air & Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- November 2003 – November 2004, NCOIC, Strategic Targets, 607th Air Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
- November 2004 – November 2007, Section Chief, Targets, 32th Air Intelligence Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
- November 2007 – July 2011, Superintendent, Combat Intelligence Division, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
- July 2011 – September 2014, Superintendent, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
- September 2014 – September 2015, Senior Enlisted Leader, Special United States Liaison Advisor Korea, Army Garrison Yongsan, Republic of Korea
- October 2015 – December 2016, Superintendent, 3d Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Ga.
- December 2016 – March 2018, Superintendent, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
- March 2018 – July 2019, Command Chief, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
- July 2019 – July 2020, Superintendent, Headquarters United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- July 2020 – May 2022, Command Chief, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- May 2022 – Present, Command Chief, Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 86th Airlift Wing Lt Gen Leo Marquez Award
2002 Honor Graduate, Operations Intelligence Specialist Technical Training School
2003 AETC Commanders Award, Combat Targeting School
2006 603rd Air Operations Center Lance P. Sijan Award
2006 HQ USAF Intelligence NCO of the Year
2008 USSOCOM Air Force Intelligence Senior NCO of the Year
2009 USSOCOM Air Force Intelligence Senior NCO of the Year
2011 AFSOC Intelligence Senior NCO of the Year
2012 1st Special Operations Support Squadron Senior NCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant November 1, 2014
(Current as of May 2022)