Chief Master Sgt. Melanie J. Grim is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. She advises commanders and staff on organizing, training and equipping the personnel who operate, maintain and sustain 57 C-130 aircraft, ensuring support for combat, contingency, and humanitarian requirements worldwide. As command chief, she oversees the mission effectiveness, professional development, readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of the wing’s 11,000-member community including the 314th Airlift Wing (Air Education and Training Command), 189th Airlift Wing (Air National Guard), 913th Airlift Group (Air Force Reserve Command), 29th Weapons Squadron (Air Combat Command), and the 34th Combat Training Squadron.
Chief Grim is from San Francisco, California, and entered the Air Force in August 2002. Her career includes various duties as a Dedicated Crew Chief, Executive Assistant to the AETC Command Chief, Inspector General, and Maintenance Superintendent at bases in Japan, North Dakota, Texas, Arizona, South Korea, Florida and California. Her aircraft experience includes MC-130P/H, C-130H, KC-135R/T, EC-130H, and C-17A. Prior to her current position she served as the Wing Senior Enlisted Leader at the 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan.
She has deployed in support of Operations UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, SPARTAN SHIELD, and ALLIES REFUGE.
EDUCATION
2003 Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2007 Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan
2011 Associates of Applied Science, Aerospace Maintenance Technology, CCAF,
Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2013 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, Correspondence
Course
2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland,
Texas
2015 Jet Engine Mishap Investigation Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2016 Continuous Process Improvement Green Belt Course, Davis-Monthan AFB,
Ariz.
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence Course
2016 Airframe & Powerplant Certification, Federal Aviation Administration
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Correspondence
Course
2017 Professional Managers Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Bachelors of Business Administration, American Military University, Va.
2018 Inspector General Training Couse, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2019 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2020 Masters in Business Administration, American Military University, Va.
2021 Chiefs Leadership Orientation, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Chiefs Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 AFPC Commander/Senior Enlisted Leader Course, HQ AFPC, JBSA
Randolph, Texas
2025 Wing Pre-Command Team Training, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Joint Special Operations Force Pre-Command Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2002 – October 2002, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB,
Texas
2. October 2002 – April 2003, Student, C-130 Aerospace Maintenance School,
Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 2003 – April 2008, MC-130P/H Crew Chief, 353d Maintenance Squadron,
Kadena AB, Japan
4. April 2008 – March 2010, KC-135R/T Isochronal Inspection Craftsman, 319th
Maintenance Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
5. April 2010 – October 2011, Aircraft Systems Test Specialist, HQ AETC A5/8/9,
JBSA-Randolph, Texas
6. November 2011 – March 2014, Administrative Assistant to the AETC Command
Chief, HQ AETC, JBSA Randolph, Texas
7. March 2014 – September 2014, Executive Assistant to the AETC Command
Chief, HQ AETC, JBSA Randolph, Texas
8. October 2014 – May 2015, EC-130H Maintenance Craftsman, 755th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9. June 2015 – October 2015, Flightline Expediter, 755th Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (June 2015 – October 2015, Flightline
Expediter, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ali Al Salem,
Kuwait)
10. November 2015 – September 2017, Combat Systems Section Chief, 755th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (January 2017 –
July 2017, Production Superintendent, 455th Air Expeditionary Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
11. October 2017 – October 2018, Wing Inspection Team Manager/Inspection
Planner, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea
12. October 2018 – May 2019, Accessories Flight Chief, 6th Maintenance
Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13. June 2019 – February 2020, Maintenance Flight Chief, 6th Maintenance
Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. February 2020 – May 2021, Lead Production Superintendent, 6th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. May 2021 – June 2022, Maintenance Superintendent, 8th Expeditionary Air
Mobility Squadron, Al Udeid, Qatar
16. July 2022 – November 2022, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Chief, 860th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
17. December 2022 – August 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 860th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
18. September 2024 – April 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 353d Special
Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
19. April 2026- Present, Command Chief, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock, AFB, Ark
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Senior Airman Below the Zone
2006 Airman of the Year, 353d Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan
2009 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 319th Maintenance Group, Grand
Forks AFB, N.D.
2013 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, AETC Command Section, JBSA-
Randolph, Texas
2017 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,
Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
2018 Team of the Year, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea
2021 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Award, 6th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant July 1, 2022
(Current as of April 2026)