Chief Master Sergeant David L. Boyd is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) and the 225th Air Defense Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The Western Air Defense Sector is responsible for maintaining North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) air sovereignty and counter air operations of 72% of the Continental United States. Chief Boyd provides leadership and management to over 300 Air National Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force, contractors and civilian personnel assigned to the Sector. As the Senior Enlisted Leader, Chief Boyd is responsible for implementing and directing policies, procedures, and training requirements for over 200 enlisted personnel to ensure readiness for execution of the 24-hour air defense mission in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE.
A native of Cedaredge, Colorado, Chief Boyd enlisted into the United States Air Force in 2002 as a surveillance technician. His first assignment was to Hill AFB, Utah, where he deployed to the Northeast Air Defense Sector to augment the Air National Guard in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE. After his return from NEADS, he was selected to attend Weapons Director School where he graduated with the Distinguished Graduate award. His next assignment took him to a one-year remote tour to Osan AB, Korea, where he was an instructor weapons director. He then went to the 1C5 schoolhouse at Luke AFB, Arizona, where he was a lead instructor and evaluator for the Weapons Director Mission Qualification Course. Next, he was assigned to Misawa Air Base in Japan. He was in Japan during the devastating 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan and he participated in search and rescue operations in support of Japanese Forces.
Following three years in Japan Chief Boyd was next stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was assigned to an 712th Air Support Operations Squadron and became the first weapons director to get qualified at an ASOS. He next went to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, where he was the Assistant Director of Operations Superintendent and deployed to “Kingpin” as the Operations Superintendent. He then led the unit during its move to Aviano AB, Italy. As the Operations Enlisted Manager, Chief Boyd led the European Infrastructure Consolidation relocation of $240 million in equipment, preserving the United States Air Forces Europe's sole tactical command and control unit. While in Italy, Chief Boyd was the Operations Superintendent and led 110 operators through eight higher headquarters tasking’s leading to the squadron being awarded the Headquarters Air Force Ground Based Crew of the Year. His next assignment was to USAFE HQ at Ramstein AB, Germany. He was the Air Operations Center Functional Area Manager and the 1C5 MAJCOM Functional Manger providing leadership to over 1,000 Airman across 65 different AFSCs. In September 2020, Chief Boyd transferred from active duty to the Washington Air National Guard as an AGR where he became the Superintendent of Training at the 225th Air Defense Squadron. Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Boyd was the Senior Enlisted Leader at the 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis McChord.
EDUCATION
2003 Air Control & Warning School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2003 Surveillance Technician Technical Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2005 Weapons Director Undergraduate Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2006 Airman Leadership School, Osan AB, Republic of South Korea
2009 Associate of Applied Science, Air and Space Technology Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2012 NCO Academy, Kadena AB, Japan
2012 USAF SNCOA (Course-14) (Non-Residence)
2013 Air Support Operations Center Initial Qualification Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I (Non-Residence)
2014 Joint Air Operations Planning Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Army Master Resiliency School, Fort Hood, Texas
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (Non-Residence)
2019 NATO Advanced Leadership Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2019 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2023 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. April 2002 – May 2002, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. May 2002 – September 2002, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. September 2002 – January 2005, Surveillance Technician, 729th Air Control Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
4. January 2005 – September 2005, Weapons Director, 729th Air Control Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
5. September 2005 – September 2006, Instructor Weapons Director, 621st Air Control Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea
6. September 2006 – February 2010, NCOIC, Weapons Evaluations, 607th Air Control Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. February 2010 – March 2013, NCOIC, Operations, 610th Air Control Flight, Misawa AB, Japan
8. March 2013 – May 2015, Weapons & Tactics Flight Chief, 712th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Hood, Texas
9. May 2015 – January 2017, Assistant Operations Superintendent, 606th Air Control Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
10. January 2017 – May 2018, Operations Superintendent, 606th Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
11. May 2018 – September 2020, 1C5 MAJCOM Functional Manager/603rd Air Operations Center Functional Area Manager, SAFE HQ, Ramstein AB, Germany
12. September 2020 – November 2022, Superintendent, Operations Training, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
13. November 2022 – February 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 225th Air Defense Squadron, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
14. February 2024 – present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Western Air Defense Sector & 225th Air Defense Group, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf cluster
2019 US Junior Council Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) Winner
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Academic Achievement Award, Surveillance Technician Technical Training
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Weapons Director Undergraduate Course
2012 NCO of the Year, 35th Operations Group, Misawa AB, Japan
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Air Support Operations Center, Initial Qualification Training
2015 USAFE-AFAFRICA Command & Control Battle Management Operator of the Year
2016 SNCO of the Year, 31st Operations Group, Aviano AB, Italy
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Sergeants’ Association, Lifetime Member
Veterans of Foreign War, Lifetime Member
Air & Space Forces Association, Lifetime Member
Enlisted Association of the National Guard, Lifetime Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman April 9, 2002
Airman First Class May 27, 2002
Senior Airman Sept. 27, 2004
Staff Sergeant July 1, 2006
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2010
Master Sergeant June 1, 2014
Senior Master Sergeant Feb. 1, 2018
Chief Master Sergeant Nov. 1, 2022
(CURRENT AS OF NOVEMBER 2024)