Chief Master Sgt. Joseph D. Rohde serves as the Command
Chief Master Sergeant of the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air
Force Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell, England. He is the primary
advisor to the Wing Commander on all matters affecting
readiness, morale, quality of life, utilization, health and welfare
of the wing. As U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces
Africa’s premier fighter wing, the 48th Fighter Wing is the only
wing in the Air Force with an official name, the “Statue of
Liberty Wing.” The Liberty Wing's 4 groups, 22 squadrons, and
14 tenant units are comprised of over 7,000 active-duty
personnel, British and U.S. civilians, and 11,000 family
members. The 48th Fighter Wing is home to four combat-ready
squadrons of dual capable F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35
Lightning II aircraft. Chief Rohde is a vital liaison between the
installation and the local communities, working to strengthen
community relations in support of Liberty Wing Airmen.
Chief Rohde entered the Air Force in July 1997 from Minnesota
and graduated from Tactical Aircraft Maintenance training at
Luke Air Force Base, Az. in March 1998. He has maintenance
and management experience on multiple aircraft including the
F-15C/D/E, F-16C/D, F-22A, F-35A and MQ-9A. Throughout his
career, he has filled numerous roles including a major
command headquarters duty tour as the Fifth-Generation
Fighter Functional Manager at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,
Hawaii. His assignments include bases in Arizona, Republic of
Korea, Italy, Virginia, Hawaii, Nevada, Japan, England, and
Idaho. He has deployed in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to his current position, CMSgt Rohde served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 366th Fighter Wing located at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
EDUCATION
1997 Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1998 Maintenance Ready Technician Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2000 Airman Leadership School, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2002 F-16 Maintenance Craftsman Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2003 Principles of Instruction, Aviano Air Base, Italy
2005 Associate of Applied Science Degree, Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2005 Bachelor of Science Degree, Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2014 Professional Manager’s Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Contingency and Wartime Planning Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, by correspondence
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2021 LOGTECH Advanced, Institute of Defense & Business, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, by correspondence
2022 Nuclear Managers Course, Ramstein AB, Germany
2024 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, The Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Pre-Command Team Training, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Eurasia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2026 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997 – August 1997, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 1997 – February 1998, Student, Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. February 1998 – March 1998, Student, Maintenance Ready Technician Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. March 1998 – November 2000, Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief/Dedicated Crew Chief, 62d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. November 2000 – November 2001, Dedicated Crew Chief, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. January 2002 – May 2003, Dedicated Crew Chief, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (March 2002 – May 2002,
Dedicated Crew Chief, 555th Fighter Squadron, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
7. May 2003 – September 2006, Maintenance Training Instructor/Development and Instruction Section Chief, 31st
Maintenance Operations Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
8. September 2006 – August 2012, Dedicated Crew Chief/Flightline Expediter/Support Section Chief/Specialist Section
Chief/Production Superintendent, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
9. August 2012 – August 2013, Production Superintendent, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
10. August 2013 – August 2016, Manager, Maintenance Integration Branch/Command Fifth Generation Fighter Functional
Manager, Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
11. September 2016 – May 2019, Reaper Aircraft Maintenance Unit Assistant Superintendent/Reaper Aircraft Maintenance Unit
Superintendent, 432d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. (March 2017 – September 2017; Maintenance
Superintendent, 62d Expeditionary Attack Squadron, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan)
12. May 2019 – June 2021, 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent/Squadron Superintendent, 35th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
13. June 2021 – June 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 48th Maintenance Group, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
14. June 2024 – June 2026, Command Chief, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (April – October 2025, Command
Chief, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, United States Central Command Area of Responsibility)
15. July 2026 – Present, Command Chief, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Senior Airman Below-The-Zone
2005 United States Air Forces in Europe Maintenance Training Flight Instructor of the Year
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2017 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, Senior Enlisted Category, 432d Maintenance Group
OCCUPATIONAL BADGE
Master Maintenance Badge
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Association
Permanent member, Air Force Sergeants Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic July 9, 1997
Airman Jan. 9, 1998
Airman First Class Nov. 9, 1998
Senior Airman Jan. 9, 2000
Staff Sergeant Aug. 1, 2001
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2005
Master Sergeant May 1, 2010
Senior Master Sergeant Jan. 1, 2014
Chief Master Sergeant March 1, 2018
(Current as of July 2026)