Chief Master Sergeant Allan L. Lawson is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Western Air Defense Sector and Chief Enlisted Manager for the 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The Western Air Defense Sector is responsible for the air defense of 72.5% of the Continental United States, working under Air Forces Northern and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. He leads 206 enlisted members executing air defense operations over the Western United States.
Chief Lawson entered the Air Force in 1995 and has served as a Command and Control Battle Management Operator. He has participated in Operations DENY FLIGHT, STEADY STATE, LASER STRIKE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE and NOBLE EAGLE. During these campaigns, Chief Lawson executed command and control operations in support of national interests for allied countries and the United States. In addition, he served as the Western Air Defense Sector’s First Sergeant and the Washington Air National Guard’s Honor Guard Program Manager.
EDUCATION
1995 Aerospace Control and Warning Systems Journeyman Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
1996 Field Mobility and Weapons Course – Eglin AFB, Fla.
1997 Multi-Advanced Joint Interoperability Course – Ft. McPherson, Ga.
1997 Survival Training Course – Duke Field, Fla.
1999 Airman Leadership School, McChord AFB, Wash. – In-residence
1999 Global Command and Control System Course – Naval Base San Diego, Calif.
2004 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Tenn. – In-residence
2007 First Sergeant Academy, Gunter Annex, Ala. – In-residence
2008 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Ala. – In-residence
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course – Correspondence
2012 Diversity for Champions Course, Camp Murray, Wash.
2013 Leadership Challenge Program, Spokane, Wash.
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, Ft. McNair, Va.
2014 Air and Space Operations Technology Degree – Community College of the Air Force
2015 Lean for Leaders Course, Camp Murray, Wash.
2015 Human Resource Management Degree – Community College of the Air Force
2016 Chief Executive Course – Andrews AFB, Maryland
2017 Contemporary Base Issues Course – Mt. View, Calif.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.February 1995 – March 1995, student, Aerospace and Control Warning Systems Operator Course,Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
2.March 1995 – January 1997, Surveillance and Interface Control Technician, 728th Air ControlSquadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
3.January 1997 – January 1998, Instructor, Combat Training, 728th Air Control Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
4.January 1998 – January 1999, Surveillance NCOIC, Standards and Evaluations, 728th Air Control Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
5.January 1999 – Febuary 2003, Assistant NCOIC, Interface Control Section, Western Air Defense Sector, McChord AFB, Washington
6.Febuary 2003 – July 2004, NCOIC of Weapons and Communications, Combat Requirements, Western Air Defense Sector, McChord AFB, Washington
7.July 2004 – November 2006, NCOIC of Surveillance, Western Air Defense Sector, McChord AFB, Washington
8.November 2006 – March 2011, First Sergeant, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
9.March 2011 – January 2013, Flight Superintendent, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
10.January 2013 – January 2014, Sector Operations Superintendent, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
11.January 2014 – October 2015, Assistant Operations Superintendent, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
12.October 2015 - February 2018, Chief Enlisted Manager, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
13.February 2018 - Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Devices
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with 4 Devices
Combat Readiness Medal with 4 Devices
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 Device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 Devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Washington Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year; 2009
1st Air Force Noncommisionned Officer of the Year; 2002
Western Air Defense Sector Noncommisioned Officer of the Year, 2002
Western Air Defense Sector Airman of the Year; 1999
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman, July 1995
Airman First Class, May 1996
Senior Airman, January 1998
Staff Sergeant, February 2000
Technical Sergeant, February 2003
Master Sergeant, February 2005
Senior Master Sergeant, Mar 2011
Chief Master Sergeant, Oct 2015
(Current as of March 2018)