Chief Master Sgt. James W. Loper is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. A combined arms team of special mission personnel and aviation. Chief Loper serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader responsible to plan, lead, and conduct military rescue operations and missions to deny competitors and adversaries exploitation of isolated personnel for the largest Rescue Wing in the Air Force. He advises the commander on matters concerning the combat readiness, effective use, training and progress of more than 2,500 airmen, including three geographically separated units; the 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland International Airport, Oregon; and the 920th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Joint Base Langley, Eustis, Virginia. He ensures the enlisted force is ready to fight hard and that the officer corps is worthy of leading them.
Chief Loper began his military career in 1995 as a graduate of Air Force Basic Military Training. He spent four years on active duty as an Air Combat Command C2 controller, including one deployment to Central Command, before joining the Air Force Reserve in 1999. Chief Loper has served tours of duty in Southwest Asia for Operation Northern Watch, as well as two deployments to the European theater for Operation Joint Forge.
Prior to his current assignment, Chief Loper was the First Chief of the Reserve Chiefs’ Group.
EDUCATION
2002 Airman Leadership School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Regis University, Denver, Colo.
2005 NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 USAF SNCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 USAF Air Command & Staff College IDE (JPME), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course (SEJPME), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Associates in Emergency Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2014 Senior Leader Nuclear Management Course, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2014 USAF Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course (Validating Class), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21) Executive Leaders Course, University of Tennessee, Tenn.
2016 Keystone Joint Leadership Course, National Defense University (NDU), Washington D.C.
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II (SEJPME II), Maxwell AFB
2017 Latin America Political-Economic Conflict Seminar, Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C
2018 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C
2020 Strategic Mindset Seminar, Washington D.C.
2021 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C
2021 Senior Managers in Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma
2022 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1995 - April 1996, Command Post Controller, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
2. April 1996 - November 1997, Command & Control Reports Controller, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
3. November 1997 - August 1999, Senior Command Post Controller, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
4. August 1999 - December 2003, Senior Command Post controller, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
5. December 2003 - August 2007, Nuclear Command & Control Training Manager and Aircrew Command & Control Procedures Training Manager, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
6. August 2007 - August 2008, Superintendent Combat Crew Communications, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
7. August 2008 - May 2013, Superintendent Command Post, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
8. February 2012 - May 2015, Chief of Nuclear Operation, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
9. May 2013 - April 2016, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
10. April 2016 – October 2017, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. October 2017 - January 2020, Command Chief Master Sergeant,10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Tx.
12. January 2020 - July 2022, Chief, Air Force Reserve Chiefs’ Group, Air Force Reserve Senior Leader Management Office, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. August 2022 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick SFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and Nuclear Device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant May 1, 2013
(Current as of December 2023)