James C. Binnicker

James C. Binnicker
9th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (1986-1990)
Born	July 23, 1938 Orangeburg, South Carolina
Died	March 21, 2015 (aged 76) Calhoun, Georgia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1957 - 1990 (33 years)
Rank	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	See below
Other work	CEO Air Force Enlisted Village

Chief Master Sergeant James C. Binnicker (July 23, 1938 – March 21, 2015) was the ninth appointed Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) — the highest non-commissioned officer position in the United States Air Force.

Military career

James Binnicker was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he graduated from Aiken High School in 1956. He entered the Air Force in August 1957. His first assignment was to the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as a life support specialist. His early years include tours in base and wing operations in Hawaii, North Dakota, Georgia, North Carolina, Vietnam, and Taiwan. He served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for 12th Air Force, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and Headquarters Tactical Air Command (TAC). He also represented the Air Force as Senior Enlisted Advisor on the President's Commission on Military Compensation. In February 1985, Chief Binnicker was selected for the 33-year extended tenure program.

Binnicker served as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from July 1, 1986 to July 1990.

Post-military career

Since March 2000, Binnicker has been the president and CEO of the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV), a non-profit charity located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, that provides a home for the surviving spouses of enlisted military personnel.^[1] Binnicker was a member of the AFEV Board of Directors from 1992 to his death.^[2] He died in 2015, aged 76,^[3] and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[4]

Assignments

1. August 1957, trainee, United States Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 1957 - 1963, life support specialist, 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
3. 1963 - July 1964, air operations specialist, 816th Strategic Aerospace Division, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
4. July 1964 - August 1967, noncommissioned officer in charge, wing operations, 1502d Air Transport Wing (later became 61st Military Airlift Wing), Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
5. August 1967 - August 1968, noncommissioned officer in charge, base operations, 4th Strategic Aerospace Division, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota
6. August 1968 - September 1969, noncommissioned officer in charge, base operations, 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron, Binh Thuy Air Base, Republic of Vietnam; and language instructor, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Language School, Saigon
7. September 1969 - May 1971, air operations superintendent, 58th Military Airlift Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
8. May 1971 - August 1972, noncommissioned officer in charge, wing operations, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan
9. August 1972 - September 1975, operations superintendent, base sergeant major and wing senior enlisted adviser, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina
10. September 1975 - October 1977, senior enlisted adviser, 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
11. October 1977 - April 1978, Air Force enlisted representative and senior enlisted adviser on the President's Commission on Military Compensation
12. April 1978 - June 1978, senior enlisted adviser, 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
13. June 1978 - Jun 1981, senior enlisted adviser to the commander in chief, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
14. June 1981 - May 1982, chief, enlisted retention division, Headquarters Manpower and Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
15. May 1982 - May 1985, assistant for chief master sergeant matters, Headquarters Manpower and Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
16. May 1985 - July 1986, senior enlisted adviser to the commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
17. July 1986 - July 1990, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Unit awards
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Service awards
	Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Army Good Conduct Medal
Campaign and service medals
	National Defense Service Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
	NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions

Rank	Date
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	July 1, 1986

Succession

References

1. Jordan, Jodi L. (February 9, 2007). "Air Force Enlisted Village earns 4-star rating". Air Force Link. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
2. "AFEV Staff Directors: James C. Binnicker, CASP". Air Force Enlisted Village. Retrieved 2008-02-03.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James C. Binnicker biography".