Chief Master Sergeant Kent R. Uphoff is the Chief Enlisted Manager, Readiness, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas. He is responsible for developing command policy and guidance for Crisis Action, Command Post operations, manning, AEF contingency, emergency action procedures and operational reporting. He assumed his current position in June 2000

Chief Uphoff was born on 5 August 1960, in Columbus, NE. He graduated from Omaha Roncalli High School in 1978 and entered the United States Air Force in May 1979. After basic training at Lackland AFB TX, he attended the Command and Control Course at Keesler AFB MS graduating in August 1979. His first assignment took him to the 388th TFW, Hill AFB UT, where he served as an Emergency Actions Controller. He served continuously in the Command and Control career field spanning the continents, successfully completing assignments to Europe and the Far East. In 1990 he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation DESERT STORM, where he served as Superintendent, Operations Center.

After the war, CMSgt Uphoff was assigned as the Chief, Command Post, 12 FTW, Randolph AFB, TX. He was soon selected for the position of Superintendent, Command and Control for the Air Education and Training Command's Inspector General. In June 1998 he volunteered for a remote tour in the Republic of South Korea. Upon his return from South Korea he assumed his current position at Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command.

CMSgt Uphoff was chosen as USAFE NCO Controller of the year 1991, the Commander in Chiefs Excellence Award winner in 1994, and finalist for Toyota's Ten Outstanding Young Americans in 1999. He also received a John Levitow Award from the Noncommissioned Officer Supervisor's Course and the Commandant's Award from 55th SRW Leadership School. He was a Distinguished Graduate of the Senior NCO Academy and a Graduate of the USAFE Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

EDUCATION

1979 Command and Control Course, Keesler AFB, MS
1982 NCO Supervisor's Course School, Sembach AB, GE, John Levitow Winner
1985 NCO Leadership School, Offutt AFB, NE, Commandant Award Winner
1992 USAFE NCO Academy, RAF Upwood, UK,
1993 Community College of the Air Force, Communications Technology
1994 Associates in Applied Science, Business Management, Texas Lutheran University
1998 SNCO Academy, Gunter AFB, AL, Distinguished Graduate
2002 Wayland Baptist University, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education

ASSIGNMENTS

1. August 1979 - October 1981, Emergency Actions Controller, 388 TFW, Hill AFB, UT 2. October 1981 - October 1983, Wing Operational Reports Controller, 601 TCW, Sembach AB, Germany
3. October 1983 - May 1985, Wing Sorts Manager, 55 SRW, Offutt AFB, NE
4.May 1985 - July 1988, NCOIC, Console Operations, Aviano AB, Italy
5. July 1988 - August 1990, NCOIC, Command Post, 48 FTW, RAF Lakenheath, UK
6. August 1990 - April 1991, Superintendent, Operations Center, Operation DESERT
STORM, Taif, Saudi Arabia
7. August 1992 - November 1995, Chief, Command Center, 12 FTW, Randolph AFB, TX
8. November 1995 - June 1998, Superintendent, Command and Control, HQ AETC Inspector General, Randolph AFB, TX
9. June 1998 - June 2000, Superintendent, Operations, CJ3, Yongsan AIN, South Korea
10. June 2000 - Present, Chief, Enlisted Manager, Readiness, HQ AETC, Randolph AFB, TX

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with five oak leaf clusters

(Current as of Jan 2003)