Chief Master Sergeant Rachel L. Carson
Chief Master Sgt. Rachel L. Carson is the State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Arizona Air National Guard, Papago Park Military Reservation, Phoenix, Arizona. She represents the highest level of enlisted leadership and serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander of the Arizona Air National Guard. Chief Carson is responsible for matters influencing the readiness, health, morale, welfare, and professional development of more than 2500 Arizona Air National Guard members and is the Enlisted Field Advisory Council Region 7 alternate chair.
Chief Carson enlisted in the Air National Guard in March 2000. Her duty assignments include bases in Iowa, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Arizona as a first sergeant, the Arizona Counterdrug Task Force Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of J3 Operations, and the Mission Support Group Superintendent. In 2008, Chief Carson deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as the Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Prior to being selected as State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Arizona Air National Guard, Chief Carson was the State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.
EDUCATION
2000 Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2000 USAF/USN Consolidated Food Service Apprentice Technical School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2002 Associate of Applied Science, Management, Western Iowa Technical Institute, Sioux City
2003 Bachelor of Science, Management, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
2004 Airmen Leadership Course, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Associates of Applied Science, Fitness, Recreation and Services Management, CCAF, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2009 United State Air Force Fitness Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 Principles of Instruction, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Associates of Applied Science Degree in Human Resource Management, CCAF, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2014 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Defense Support of Civil Authorities, Phase I, by correspondence
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Professional Managers Certification, CCAF, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint PME II Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 ANG Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 Defense Support of Civil Authorities, Phase II, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
2020 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Institute for Defense and Business, Chapel Hill, N. C.
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Washington, D. C.
2021 USAF Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2021 Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2000-April 2004, Recreation Specialist, Services Flight, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa
2. May 2004-September 2010, Unit Training Manager, Force Support Squadron, 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, S.D.
3. May 2009-June 2009, Recreation NCOIC, Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan
4. October 2010-October 2011, Services Craftsman, Force Support Squadron, 137th ARW, Oklahoma City, Okla.
5. November 2011-March 2014, Readiness NCOIC, Force Support Squadron, 161st ARW, Phoenix, Ariz.
6. April 2014-December 2015, First Sergeant, Mission Support Group, 161st ARW, Phoenix, Ariz.
7. January 2016-April 2019, First Sergeant, Wing Staff and Operations Group, 161st ARW, Phoenix, Ariz.
8. April 2019-February 2020, Group Superintendent, Mission Support Group, 161st ARW, Phoenix, Ariz.
9. March 2020-December 2020, State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
10. January 2021-Present, State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Arizona Air National Guard, Papago Park Military Reservation, Phoenix, Ariz.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Arizona Airman of the Year Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Arizona Service Ribbon
Arizona First Sergeant Award
Iowa Leadership Ribbon with Torch
Iowa National Guard State Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
South Dakota National Guard Service
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Air Force Distinguished Honor Graduate USAF/USN Consolidated Services Technical School
2009 First Sergeant Council Diamond Sharp Airmen of the Year
2012 Force Support Sharp Troop of the Year
2014 Mission Support Group Performer of the Year
2015 161st ARW First Sergeant of the Year
2016 161st ARW First Sergeant of the Year
2018 161st ARW First Sergeant of the Year
2019 Region 7 First Sergeant of the Year
2019 Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class March 02, 2000
Senior Airman Oct. 1, 2000
Staff Sergeant March 2, 2004
Technical Sergeant Jan. 26, 2011
Master Sergeant Nov. 02, 2013
Senior Master Sergeant July 09, 2016
Chief Master Sergeant April 18, 2019
(Current as of February 2021)