Chief Master Sergeant Will Stimpson entered the Air Force in March 2002. A highly accomplished leader with a diverse operational background, his career spans combat rescue, special operations, and strategic nuclear deterrence missions. Chief Stimpson has executed high-stakes joint, Irregular Warfare, and Unconventional Warfare missions across multiple geographic combatant commands in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) strategic priorities, including serving as a Joint PME Instructor at USSOCOM’s Joint Special Operations University and advising the J3 at Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT).
Demonstrating versatile leadership across multiple Air Force core missions, Chief Stimpson also served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 90th Operations Group at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, leading airmen charged with maintaining and operating the nation's premier Minuteman III ICBM strategic nuclear deterrence capability.
Currently, Chief Master Sergeant Stimpson serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. In this pivotal role, he oversees the military education, discipline, and professional development of 4,000 cadets and 750 faculty and staff, shaping the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders.
EDUCATION
2005 Moody AFB Airmen Leadership School, Distinguished Graduate
2011 Community College of the Air Force, AS in Aviation Operations
2015 American Military University, BA in International Relations with Honors
2015 Sheppard AFB NCO Academy, Distinguished Graduate, Levitow Award Winner
2017 AFSOC Commando Officer Development Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
2018 Enterprise Management, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, FL
2019 United States Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, AL
2020 Joint Special Operations Master of Arts, National Defense University, Fort Bragg, NC
2020 Managing Complex Projects Executive Seminar, University of Cambridge, UK
2021 Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Academy, Honors Graduate, Joint Special Operations University, FL
2023 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2025 Wing Pre-Command Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2002 - 2003, Student, HH-60G Aerial Gunner Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
2. 2003 - 2005, Instructor Aerial Gunner, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
3. 2005 - 2006, Evaluator Aerial Gunner, 56th Rescue Squadron, NAS Keflavik, Iceland
4. 2006 - 2008, Evaluator Aerial Gunner, 56th Rescue Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK
5. 2008 - 2012, Evaluator Aerial Gunner/CAA, 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
6. 2012 - 2013, Sq NCOIC/Evaluator Aerial Gunner, 438 Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan
7. 2013 - 2014, Student, HH-60G Flight Engineer Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
8. 2014 - 2017, Ops Supt/Evaluator Flight Engineer, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
9. 2017 - 2019, Sq Supt/Instructor Sensor Operator, 6th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, FL
10. 2019 - 2020, Master’s Student, National Defense University, Joint Special Operations Master of Arts, Ft Bragg, NC
11. 2020 - 2021, Superintendent, AFSOC Programs Division (A8), Hurlburt Field, FL
12. 2021 - 2023, Joint PME Instructor, Joint Special Operations University, USSOCOM, Macdill AFB, FL
13. 2023 - 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
14. 2025 - 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 90th Operations Group, FE Warren AFB, WY
15. 2026 - Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Academic Wing, USAFA, CO
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Instructor Sensor Operator/Evaluator Flight Engineer/Evaluator Aerial Gunner
Flight Hours: 2,300 total; 375 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: HH-60G, UH-1H, UH-1N, Mi-17, Mi-171, AC-208
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Commendation Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 USAFE Airman Henry “Red” Erwin Enlisted Aviator of the Year
2007 USAFE NCO Henry “Red” Erwin Enlisted Aviator of the Year
2008 USAFE Instructor of the Year
2015 66th RQS NCO of the Year
2017 492 SOW SNCO Instructor of the Year
2020 HQ AFSOC A5/8 SNCO of the Year
(Current as of August 2026)