Chief Master Sergeant Thomas Schaefer is Command Chief Master Sergeant for Seventh Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. He serves as the personal advisor to the Commander on all matters regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization of more than 8,500 Total Force Airmen and family members across the Korean Peninsula. As the senior enlisted Airman for the Air Component Command of United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command, he partners with Republic of Korea and joint service senior leaders, ensuring the combat readiness of the U.S. - ROK Alliance.
CMSgt Schaefer is a native of Newport Beach, CA. He entered the Air Force in November of 1997 and graduated from the Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist School at Hurlburt Field, Florida in June of 1998. He has an extensive background within the Tactical Air Control Party Community serving during deployments in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, JOINT GUARD, JOINT FORGE, ALLIED FORCE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Senior Enlisted Leader to the Air Force Director of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Pentagon, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelors of Science, Criminal Sociology, University of Arizona
1997 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2000 Joint Firepower Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2001 Airman Leadership School, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
2007 Associate of Science, Information Systems Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2010 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Level 1 by Correspondence
2011 Professional Management Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2012 SNCO Academy in residence, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2012 USAFWS JTAC WIC Graduate, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Level 2 by Correspondence
2017 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, by Correspondence
2021 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Andrews AFB, Maryland
2021 China, INDOPACOM and the Far East Seminar, by Correspondence
2021 Regional Seminar; Africa, Washington D.C.
2023 Artificial Intelligence for National Security Leaders Course, Cambridge, MD
2023 Strategic Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunther Annex, AL
2024 Ascent Course, Pentagon, VA
2025 Mid East Asia Seminar, Flatter Inc., Capitol Club, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1998 – August 2000, Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist / Fighter Duty Tech 4th Air Support Operations Squadron, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim, Germany
2. August 2000 – October 2006, Joint Terminal Attack Instructor / Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 20th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Drum, New York
3. October 2006 – March 2011, Operations Superintendent, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Carson, Colorado
4. March 2011 – January 2012, Squadron Superintendent, 604th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea
5. January 2012 – September 2013, Initial Cadre, JTAC Weapons Instructor Course, 66th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
6. September 2013 – September 2014, Squadron Superintendent, 66th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
7. September 2014 – June 2015, Squadron Superintendent, 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Baghdad, Iraq
8. June 2015 – February 2016, Squadron Superintendent, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kansas
9. February 2016 to August 2016, Group Superintendent, 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
10. August 2016 – July 2018, Squadron Superintendent, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kansas
11. August 2018 - May 2021, Group Superintendent, 57th Operations Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada
12. June 2021 – May 2022, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
13. June 2022 – September 2023, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
14. September 2023 – July 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, SecAF/CSAF Executive Action Group and acting AF/DS Senior Enlisted Leader
15. July 2025 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Seventh Air Force, Osan AB, ROK
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Basic Training Drill Award
1998 Commandant’s Award, Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course
1998 Combat Survival Course
1999 Distinguished Graduate, USAFE Air Ground Operations School
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Joint Firepower Course
2001 US Army Air Assault Qualification
2001 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2003 US Army Basic Mountaineering Course
2004 US Army Pathfinder Qualification
2006 US Army Basic Airborne Qualification
2008 John L. Levitow Award, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 57th Wing
2015 Lance P. Sijan Award, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing
(Current as of July 2025)