An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

 

 

 

Chief Master Sergeant JAMES M. WOODS

Chief Master Sergeant James M. Woods is the Chief, Medical Enlisted Force and Enlisted Corps Chief, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and also serves as the second Chief, Medical Enlisted Force of the U.S. Space Force. Chief Woods is the personal advisor to the Air and Space Force Surgeon General on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progression for the 34,000 Total Force medical community. As such, he defines, shapes and executes health care policy in support of 45,000 personnel at 76 military treatment facilities with a $6.3 billion budget. He ensures a cost effective, patient-centered and prevention-based health care continuum for 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide and fosters strategic partnerships with senior enlisted leaders at DoD/ASD (Health Affairs), Veterans Affairs, federal agencies, academia and allied medical services.

Chief Woods enlisted in the Air Force in September of 1999 and his background includes duties in the Respiratory Care Practitioner career field, Education and Training, Readiness, Base Honor Guard, First Sergeant and he was a member of the Air Force Action Shooting Team. He has held various senior enlisted positions while serving at squadron, group, wing and command levels. Chief Woods has deployed as a Critical Care Air Transport Team member in support of humanitarian missions, Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.

EDUCATION
2000 Certified Cardiographic Technician, Cardiovascular Credentialing International
2001 Certified Respiratory Therapist, National Board for Respiratory Care
2003 Airmen Leadership School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2005 Associate of Applied Science, Cardiopulmonary Lab and Instructor of Technology & Military Science, CCAF
2005 Bachelor of Science, Respiratory Therapy (Summa Cum Laude), Touro University International
2006 Registered Respiratory Therapist, National Board for Respiratory Care
2007 Noncommissioned Officers Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2007 Master of Arts in Education, Higher Education (Summa Cum Laude), Touro University International
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Professional Manager Certification and Occupational Instructor Certification, CCAF
2019 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I & II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2021 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, North Carolina University Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2000 - October 2004, Respiratory Therapist Shift Leader, 59th MDW, Lackland AFB, Texas (November 2001 - April 2002, Critical Care Air Transport Team Respiratory Therapist, Joint Special Operations Task Force Dagger and Task Force K-Bar, Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, Kandahar Airfield & Bagram AB, Afghanistan; July 2003 - October 2003, Critical Care Air Transport Team Respiratory Therapist, 379th AEW, Qatar)
2. October 2004 - May 2009, Program Director, Respiratory Care Course, 882nd TRG, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 2009 - September 2012, Superintendent, Heart Lung & Vascular Center, 60th MDG, Travis AFB, Calif. (January 2011 - August 2011, Critical Care Air Transport Team Respiratory Therapist, 332nd AEW, Iraq; 386th AEW, Kuwait & Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan)
4. September 2012 - July 2016, Superintendent, Center for Sustainment of Trauma & Readiness Skills, Cincinnati, Ohio
5. July 2016 - June 2018, Superintendent, 99th Surgical Operations Squadron, 99th MDG, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. July 2018 - July 2019, Superintendent, Medical Operations Squadron, 88th ABW, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. July 2019 - May 2022, 711 Human Performance Wing Senior Enlisted Leader & Superintendent, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. May 2022 - July 2023, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, Headquarters, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. July 2023 - June 2024, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Va.
10. June 2024 - Present, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, Office of the Air and Space Force Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with “V” device and three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Gallant Unit Citation

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Lackland AFB Honor Guard Member of the Year
2006 Air Force Respiratory Care Practitioner NCO of the Year
2008 Robert D. Gaylor NCOA Distinguished Graduate Class 08-2
2009 882nd Training Group NCO of the Year
2015 Air Force Research Laboratory & 711 Human Performance Wing SNCO of the Year

PUBLICATIONS
“Evaluation of Mechanical Ventilator Use with Liquid Oxygen Systems,” DTIC, February 2017
“Impact of Hypobarism During Simulated Transport on CCATT Performance,” DTIC, April 2017

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2018

(Current as of June 2024)