Chief Master Sergeant Valerie G. Schenk is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB Utah. She advises the commander on all issues regarding the health, welfare, readiness, and morale affecting the wing’s 1,900 enlisted force personnel. The wing’s mission is to "Deliver F-35 dominance...anytime, anywhere." The wing does this through maintenance and employment of the Air Force’s first combat operational F-35A Lightning II unit with a 78 aircraft fleet worth $7.5B. The wing ensures combat readiness to deploy, employ and sustain F-35 aircraft worldwide, in order to fly, fight and win. Chief Schenk represents the interests of the 388th Fighter Wing Airmen across Hill AFB and throughout the local community.
Chief Schenk entered the Air Force in October 1996, graduating from the Aerospace Ground Equipment Apprentice course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in May 1997. Throughout her career she has filled numerous roles including F-22 Integrated Logistics Support Manager, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Assistant Superintendent, and Squadron Superintendent. She has deployed in support of numerous operations including Operation Northern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
2001 Airmen Leadership School
2002 Associate in Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Life Cycle Logistics Level II Certification, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Group Superintendent Course, Montgomery, Ala.
2021Bachelor of Science in Technical Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996 – November 1996, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1996 – May 1997, Student, Aerospace Ground Equipment Apprentice, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 1997 – May 1999, Aerospace Ground Equipment Journeyman, 2d Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. May 1999 – December 2003, Combat Aerospace Ground Equipment Team Crew Leader, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
5. January 2003 – October 2006, Programs Section Leader, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. October 2006 – July 2007, Chief of Customer Service, 88th Mission Support Squadron, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. July 2007 – September 2012, F-22 Support Equipment Integrated Logistics Support Manager, 878th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. September 2012 – June 2013, Aerospace Ground Equipment Section Chief, 432d Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
9. June 2013 – December 2014, Maintenance Flight Chief, 432nd Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
10. December 2014 - May 2015 – Squadron Superintendent, 432nd Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.
11. June 2015 – April 2016, Quality Assurance Superintendent, 51st Maintenance Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
12. April 2016 – June 2017, 25th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Assistant Superintendent, 25th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
13. July 2017 – November 2017, Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight Chief, 100th Maintenance Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
14. November 2017 – May 2018, Maintenance Operations Flight Superintendent, 100th Maintenance Group, RAF Mildenhall, England
15. May 2018 – July 2020, Superintendent, 100th Maintenance Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
16. July 2020 - July 2021, Superintendent, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
17. July 2021 – June 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 4th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
18. June 2023 – present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf cluster s
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1996 Honor Graduate, Basic Military Training
1999 Senior Airman Below the Zone
2001 Leo Marquez Award of Excellence
2005 SMSgt Margaret Frances Barbour Military Award, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
2008 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2011 AFLCMC, Fighter and Bombers Directorate Senior NCO of the Year, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2013 432nd Maintenance Group, Maintenance Professional of the Year, Creech AFB, Nev.
2015 51st Maintenance Group Maintenance Support Professional of the Year, Osan Air Base, Korea
2016 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron SNCO of the Year, Osan AB, Korea
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic October 2, 1996
Airman October 2, 1996
Airman First Class August 2, 1997
Senior Airman April 2, 1999
Staff Sergeant June 1, 2001
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2004
Master Sergeant July 1, 2008
Senior Master Sergeant July 1, 2013
Chief Master Sergeant Feb. 2018
(Current as of June 2023)