Chief Master Sergeant Melissa H. Royster is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, one of the Air Force’s three core tanker wings. The wing provides all-weather, in-flight aerial refueling for U.S. and allied military aircraft and airlift for Global Reach projection of troops, equipment and supplies worldwide. In this position, Chief Royster advises the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Commander on the health, morale, welfare, mission effectiveness, and proper utilization of more than 2,400 enlisted personnel assigned to five groups comprised of 17 squadrons, 14 wing staff agencies, two detachments and one geographically separated unit.
Throughout her career, Chief Royster has held a variety of leadership positions serving at the squadron, group, wing and major command levels. She is a graduate of the Air Force Wholesale Career Broadening Program, where she worked at the Defense Logistics Agency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her deployments include support to Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. Prior to assuming her current position, she served as the Interim Command Chief for the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Force Base, Japan.
Chief Master Sergeant Royster was born in Orlando, Florida and entered the Air Force in October 1996.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Hurlburt Field, Florida
2005 Associate Degree Applied Sciences, Logistics Management, CCAF
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Ramstein AB, Germany
2011 Bachelor of Science, Management Studies, University of Phoenix
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education
2012 Executive Certification, Supply Chain Management, Wright State University
2013 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF
2013 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Alabama
2014 Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, Liberty University
2015 Advanced Program Logistics/Technology, University NC-Chapel Hill-Kenan Flagler Business School
2017 Command Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Alabama
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Feb 1997 – July 1999, Receiving Journeyman, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
2. Aug 1999 – May 2000, Readiness Spares Package Journeyman, Osan AB, Korea
3. June 2000 – June 2003, Material Acquisition, 823d Red Horse Squadron, Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida
(Nov 2002 – May 2003, Material Acquisition Journeyman, Thumrait, Oman)
4. July 2003 – July 2005, Assistant NCOIC, Requirements Element, Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida
5. Aug 2005 – Dec 2005, Storage and Issue Supervisor, Lakenheath RAF, United Kingdom
6. Jan 2006 – Jan 2007, Unit Training Manager, Lakenheath RAF, United Kingdom
7. Jan 2007 – Jan 2008, NCOIC Logistics Readiness Center, Lakenheath RAF, United Kingdom
(May 2008 – Sept 2008, NCOIC Supply Element, JTF Bravo, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras)
8. Feb 2009 – Nov 2009, NCOIC Customer Service, Lakenheath RAF, United Kingdom
9. Nov 2009 – Nov 2012, Wholesale Logistics Career Broadener, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(May 2011 – Nov 2011, DLA Multi-Class Expediter, Camp Airifjan Kuwait)
10. Dec 2012 – April 2015, Manager, Command Equipment Office & Systems, Scott AFB, Illinois
11. May 2015 – May 2016, AMC Materiel Management Functional Manager, Scott AFB, Illinois
12. June 2016 – June 2017, Superintendent, 635th Supply Chain Operations Group, Scott AFB, Illinois
13. June 2017 – March 2018, Chief, Materiel Management, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
14. April 2018 – Oct 2018, Squadron Superintendent, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
15. Oct 2018 – March 2019, Interim Command Chief, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
16. April 2019 – Present, Command Chief, 22 Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kansas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Air Force Association CCAF Pitsenbarger Award
2008 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO of the Year
2009 48th Mission Support Group NCO of the 3rd Quarter
2011 Defense Logistics Agency SNCO of the Year
2012 AF Wholesale Logistics Career Broadening Program Graduate
2013 HQ AMC Directorate of Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection SNCO of 2nd Quarter
2013 HQ AMC Volunteer of the Year
2014 HQ AMC Directorate of Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection SNCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant Nov 2016
(Current as of April 2019)