Chief Master Sgt. William M. Simurra is the Command Chief, 908th Flying Training Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. He advises the Commander on all matters concerning the health, morale, welfare, readiness, and effective management of more than 1,200 Total Force Airmen within the Wing. In this capacity, he also provides direction on career and professional development, training, and equipping our combat ready forces, and recognition programs. Chief Simurra has the unique distinction of having been the first Flying First Sergeant in the Fourth Air Force, where he maintained his qualification as a KC-10 instructor boom operator during his first sergeant tenure.
Chief Simurra entered the Air Force in March 2007. Following basic military training, he attended the Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in July 2007. He spent the next six years serving as an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, eventually becoming the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Aircrew Training. Shortly thereafter, he cross-trained to be an In-Flight Refueling Technician on the KC-10A Extender. Prior to his current position, the chief was the Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 514th Operations Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Outside of the Air Force Reserve, Chief Simurra serves his community as a Police Lieutenant. Chief Simurra is a certified Police Instructor, Field Training Officer, and New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Manager. Chief Simurra is a member of the instructor staff of a municipal police academy, where he is responsible for training police recruits and conducting refresher training for certified police officers.
EDUCATION
2011 Airman Leadership School, by correspondence
2017 Associate in Applied Science, Practical Nursing, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2019 KC-10A Boom Operator Instructor Course, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2019 Associate in Applied Science, Aviation Operations, CCAF, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2020 Career Enlisted Aviator Senior Leadership Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, by correspondence
2020 Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2021 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2022 Bachelor of Science, Public Affairs, State University of New York Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
2024 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2024 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2024 Master of Public Administration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2024 Certificate of Advanced Study, Conflict and Collaboration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2026 Command Chief Orientation Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2007 - July 2007, Basic Trainee, 331st Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. July 2007 - October 2007, Student, 383rd Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. October 2007 - November 2012, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (May 2011 - September 2011, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
4. November 2012 - July 2020, In-Flight Refueling Technician, 76th Air Refueling Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (January 2016 - March 2016, In-Flight Refueling Technician, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates); (January 2018 - March 2018, In-Flight Refueling Technician, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
5. July 2020 - August 2020, Acting First Sergeant, 514th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
6. September 2020 - September 2021, First Sergeant, 514th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (August 2021 - September 2021, First Sergeant, 335th Air Expeditionary Group, Task Force Liberty, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.)
7. September 2021 - October 2023, First Sergeant, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
8. October 2023 - January 2025, Mobility Career Enlisted Aviator Subject Matter Expert/IMA to the Command Flight Engineer, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. January 2025 - April 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 514th Operations Group, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
10. April 2026 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 908th Flying Training Wing, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Aircrew Member
Flight Hours: more than 1,500 including more than 500 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: C-17A, C-130H, KC-135R, and KC-10A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 NCO of the Year, 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
2013 Distinguished Graduate, KC-10 Boom Operator Initial Qualification Course
2016 NCO of the Year, 76th Air Refueling Squadron
2019 Distinguished Graduate, KC-10 Instructor Boom Operator Course
2021 514th Maintenance Group First Sergeant of the Year
2022 514th Air Mobility Wing First Sergeant of the Year