CMSgt Gerardo Marquez Jr., is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home, Idaho. As the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Wing Commander, CMSgt Marquez provides strategic leadership to a fighter wing of over 4,200 military and civilian personnel across 18 squadrons. Additionally, he oversees $3.4 billion in joint and international assets, including F-15E, F-15SG, and U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft, as well as 9,016 square miles of associated airspace and 122,000 acres of land used for two air-to-ground training ranges. His operational purview encompasses diverse, multi-service operations, integrating a Republic of Singapore Air Force squadron, the 726th Air Control Squadron, the Idaho Air National Guard’s 266th Range Squadron, and the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
CMSgt Marquez is charged with developing combat-ready Airmen, protecting critical resources, and driving initiatives that forge a resilient, highly capable force. Recognizing that mission success is rooted in its people, he serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, championing the morale, discipline, and welfare of the entire base community, including families. By seamlessly aligning personnel readiness with strategic objectives, he guarantees the wing remains postured to deliver uncompromising combat lethality. CMSgt Marquez entered the Air Force in December 2001 and has since built a diverse career across the Aircraft Maintenance, Sustainment and Logistics Enterprise, as well as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. He has led personnel and driven mission success from the Aircraft Maintenance Unit up to the Group level, while also navigating complex Expeditionary Wing and Joint Special Operations Air Component environments. His technical expertise spans a lethal tactical and special operations fleet, including the F-15C/E, F-16, F-22, F-35A, AC-130J, CV-22, and MQ-9 platforms. These roles have taken him on assignments spanning Texas, Italy, Alaska, South Carolina, New Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Idaho, alongside combat deployments supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
2002 Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2005 Airman Leadership School, Aviano AB, Italy
2008 Associates Degree, Systems Technician Aircraft Armament, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Bachelor’s Degree, Aeronautical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
2009 Associates Degree, Security and Intelligence, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
2010 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
2013 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education - Phase I, National Defense University
2016 USAF Nuclear Manager Course, Defense Nuclear Weapons School, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education - Phase II, Joint Force Staff College
2018 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Alabama
2019 Introduction to Security Cooperation, Defense Security Cooperation University, Virginia
2020 Security Cooperation Executive Course, Defense Security Cooperation University, Virginia
2020 Leader Development Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2021 Chief Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Alabama
2022 Advance Nuclear Concept Course, Defense Nuclear Weapons School, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2024 Group Command Team Course and Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2025 Pre-Command Team Training, Commander’s Professional Development School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2026 Continuous Improvement and Innovation for Executives, Institute for Defense and Business, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2026 Senior Leader Security Seminar, Special Investigations Academy, Montrose, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2001 - February 2002, Trainee, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. March - May 2002, Student, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. June 2002 - March 2004, Weapons Load Crew Member, Tyndall AFB, Florida
4. April - December 2004, Squadron Lead Crew Member, Tyndall AFB, Florida
5. January 2005 - June 2006, Weapons Load Crew Chief, Aviano AB, Italy (October 2005 – May 2006, Weapons Load Crew, Balad AB, Iraq)
6. July 2006 - November 2007, Senior Weapons System Controller, Aviano AB, Italy
7. December 2007 - June 2009, Weapons Load Crew Chief, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
8. July 2009 - January 2011, Unit Deploy Manager, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
9. February - December 2011, Weapons Expediter, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
10. January 2012 - January 2013, Weapons Expediter, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
11. February 2013 - February 2014, Assistant Support Section Chief, Shaw AFB, South Carolina (March 2013 – October 2013, Support Section Chief, Osan AB, South Korea)
12. March - October 2014, Weapons Expediter, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
13. November 2014 - September 2015, NCOIC Weapons Loading, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom (March 2015 – September 2015, NCOIC Weapons Loading, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
14. October 2015 - October 2016, Weapons Section Chief, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
15. November 2016 - March 2017, Armament Maintenance Floor Supervisor, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
16. April 2017 - October 2018, Weapons Section Chief, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
17. November 2018 – July 2020, Inter-American Air Forces Academy Superintendent, JBSA Lackland AFB, Texas
18. August 2020 – May 2021, Wing Weapons Manager, Cannon AFB, New Mexico (February 2021 – June 2021, Maintenance Group Senior Enlisted Leader, Cannon AFB, New Mexico)
19. June 2021 – July 2022, 27 Special Operation Munitions Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, Cannon AFB, New Mexico (January 2022 – May 2022, Command Chief, Joint Special Operation Air Component Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
20. August 2022 – June 2024, Wing Weapons Manager, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
21. June 2024 – July 2025, Maintenance Group Senior Enlisted Leader, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
22. August 2025 – May 2026, Wing Senior Enlisted Leader, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (January 2026 – May 2026, Operations Group Senior Enlisted Leader, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho)
23. June 2026 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Honor Graduate, Aircraft Armament Systems Apprentice Course
2003 Senior Airman Below the Zone
2003 Leo Marquez Munitions Maintenance Technician of the Year, 325th Maintenance Squadron
2010 John L. Levitow Leadership Award, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2012 Armament Supervisor of the Year, Air Combat Command
2012 NCO of the Year, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Group
2015 Leo Marquez Munitions Maintenance Manager of the Year, 48th Maintenance Squadron
2015 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award nominee, 48th Maintenance Group
2016 SNCO of the Year, 48th Fighter Wing
2018 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2018 Leo Marquez Munitions Maintenance Manager of the Year, 48th Fighter Wing
2019 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award nominee, 37th Training Wing
2020 General Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award, 27th Special Operation Wing
2023 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Team of the Year Award, USAFE-AFRICA
OCCUPATIONAL BADGE
Maintenance Badge
Missile Badge
Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA) Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic December 19, 2001
Airman First Class February 1, 2002
Senior Airman December 1, 2003
Staff Sergeant August 1, 2005
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2009
Master Sergeant November 1, 2014
Senior Master Sergeant February 1, 2018
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2020
(Current as of June 2026)