Chief Mark E. Barber is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC. As Command Chief, he provides strategic leadership and direction to over 2,000 enlisted personnel and is the senior enlisted advisor to the wing commander and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, and quality of life issues for all assigned enlisted personnel and also serves as their liaison to the commander. Additionally, he serves as the functional manager for wing group superintendents and first sergeants. The wing’s mission is to augment the active-duty Air Force's strategic airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation forces in both peacetime and contingency operations while supporting combat operations and humanitarian relief efforts.
Chief Barber grew up in Lenoir, North Carolina and entered the Air Force on active duty in December 1985. In December 1989, he joined the Air Force Reserves at Charleston AFB, SC. His diverse background includes serving in numerous positions over the years and in support of Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom to include serving as an Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief and Weapons System Coordinator at the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach, SC; Aircraft Mechanic, Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman, Element Chief, and special duty leadership positions at the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC to include serving as a First Sergeant at three different squadrons and one group. In 2001, while attending the First Sergeant Academy, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Academic Achievement Award. From September 2008 to January 2009, he was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, and served as the 455th Expedition Mission Support Group’s First Sergeant, where he was the chief advisor to the mission support group commander for the health, morale, welfare, and discipline of over 400 enlisted members and six different squadrons. In April 2009, he was selected as Air Force Reserve Command’s First Sergeant of the Year for 2009. Before assuming his current position, he was the First Sergeant for the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
EDUCATION:
1989 Associate in Applied Science in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Community College of the AF
1990 Bachelor of Science in Management, University of SC at Coastal Carolina College, SC
1992 Master of Arts in Human Resources Development, Webster University, MO
1996 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Charleston AFB, SC
1998 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Program, Charleston AFB, SC
2001 Distinguished Graduate, USAFR First Sergeant Academy, Robins AFB, GA
2006 AFRC Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Willow Grove, PA
2009 Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Appalachian State University, NC
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, Norfolk, VA
2010 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, GA
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Command Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, AF Reserve Command, Robins AFB, GA
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Dec 1985 – Feb 1985, Trainee, Basic Military Training School, Lackland AFB, TX
2. Feb 1986 – March 1986, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Technician Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. Mar 1986 – Dec 1989, Asst. Crew Chief/Weapons System Coord, 354th AGS, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
4. Dec 1989 – Dec 1996, Aircraft Mechanic/Aerospace Maint Craftsman, 315th AGS, Charleston AFB, SC
5. Jan 1997 – Dec 2000, Element Chief, Airlift Configuration Section, 315th AGS, Charleston AFB, SC
6. Dec 2000 – Dec 2005, First Sergeant, 315th Mission Support Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
7. Jan 2006 – Oct 2010, First Sergeant, 81st Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
8. Sep 2008 – Jan 2009, Group First Sergeant, 455th Expeditionary MSG, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
9. Nov 2010 – Apr 2015, First Sergeant, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, JB Charleston, SC
10. May 2015 – Present, Command Chief, 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with eight devices
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with one bronze service star
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
1998 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, Charleston AFB, SC
2001 Distinguished Graduate, USAFR First Sergeant Academy, Academic Achievement Award
2009 First Sergeant of the Year, 315th AW, Charleston AFB, SC
2009 First Sergeant of the Year, 22nd Air Force
2009 First Sergeant of the Year, Air Force Reserve Command
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman Basic December 1985
Airman June 1986
Airman First Class April 1987
Senior Airman December 1988
Staff Sergeant May 1990
Technical Sergeant September 1993
Master Sergeant January 1997
Senior Master Sergeant October 2002
Chief Master Sergeant February 2011
(Current as of May 2015)