CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT MICHAEL D. BROOKS
Chief Master Sergeant Michael D. Brooks serves as the Command Chief of the 150th Special Operations Wing in the New Mexico Air National Guard. The 150th Wing provides Combat Rescue Airmen and innovative capabilities to defend the homeland, counter threats, and defeat enemies, offering flexible, multi-mission support to federal and state partners while ensuring consistent readiness in a contested global environment. In his role as Command Chief, he advises the commander on mission effectiveness, professional development, training, and military readiness for all assigned and attached personnel. His guidance helps ensure the preparation, generation, and sustainment of combat-ready intelligence and combat support forces. Additionally, he provides guidance on health, welfare, morale, culture, accountability, and the effective utilization of over 1,000 assigned and attached professionals, helping to present, preserve, and project air power globally.
Chief Brooks was an “Army brat” who grew up throughout the United States. He finished High School in King George, Virginia, and enlisted in the Air Force in July 2003. He started as an Aerospace Propulsion Mechanic working on C-17, F-16C/D, and F-117 Test Cell. As an aircraft maintainer, he qualified as a C-17 flying crew chief, traveling worldwide to support mobility operations. He later retrained as an HH-60G Flight Engineer under the mission set, Combat Search & Rescue. During his time in Air Force Rescue, he deployed supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn and was accredited with over 200 Combat Rescue Missions. CMSgt Brooks was selected as an AETC Instructor at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He was the lead flight evaluator of the largest helicopter squadron in the Air Force. During his instructor tour, he was selected as one of the first-ever Enlisted RPA Pilots in Air Force history, and recognized at the National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patt AFB, OH, and the Enlisted Heritage Museum, Maxwell AFB, AL. He served two years as an RQ-4 Global Hawk Pilot at the 12th Recon Squadron, Beale AFB, CA, deploying to Guam and Japan.
CMSgt Brooks separated from active duty and joined the New Mexico Air National Guard, returning as an Instructor Special Missions Aviator and Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader. He served a critical role on the Command Team as an operational advisor and mentor to the professional development, military readiness, and mission effectiveness of 150 Cadre and over 300 students annually. He oversaw all the Total Force USAF’s helicopter flight training programs that train mission-ready combat search and rescue, missile site support, and UH-1 DV airlift aircrews. CMSgt Brooks has held several other leadership positions during his military career, Including 1st Sergeant and 12th Reconnaissance Squadron Superintendent. Prior to his current position, Chief Brooks served at Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint-Base Andrews, Maryland as the Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention Directorate Senior Enlisted Leader.
EDUCATION
2003 Aerospace Propulsion Apprentice, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Airman Leadership School, McChord AFB, Wash
2009 Water Survival, Helicopter Water Survival. & Survival Evasion Resistance Escape School, Fairchild AFB, W.A.
2009 Basic Flight Engineer School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2009 HH-60G Flight Engineer Qualification, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2012 HH-60G Instructor Flight Engineer Upgrade, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2012 Associates in Applied Science degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, CCAF
2012 Associates in Applied Science degree in Aviation Operations, CCAF
2014 Associates in Applied Science degree, Instructor In technology/military science, CCAF
2015 Master Resiliency Instructor Course, Maguire-Dix, N.J.
2015 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas (In-Residence)
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course I & II, National Defense University, (Non-residence)
2016 Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management, Ashford University Calif.
2016 Professional Management Certification, CCAF
2016 Initial Flight Training, Doss Aviation, Pueblo, Colo.
2017 Undergraduate Remote Pilot Training, 558th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
2017 RQ-4 Qualification Training, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
2018 RQ-4 Instructor Pilot Upgrade, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif
2020 Certified Manager, Certification, James Madison University, VA
2020 Squadron Commander & Superintendent Course, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX (In-Residence)
2021 Masters in Business Management, University of Arizona
2021 Joint Task Force Staff Basic Course, LeMay Center, Maxwell AFB, A.L. (In-Residence)
2021 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Enhancement Course, National Guard Bureau (In-Residence)
2022 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL (In-Residence)
2023 Project Management Professional (PMP), Certification, Project Management Institute
2024 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, MacDill AFB, FL (In-Residence)
2024 CMSgt Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews
2025 Leading in the Moment Cohort, Medal of Honor, Griffin Institute, Arlington, TX
2025 Master of Arts in Strategic Studies, Norwich University
2026 Strategic Data Management and Marketing Certification, Cornell University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 2003 – Oct 2003, Student, 361 Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. Nov 2003 – July 2007, C-17 Propulsion Specialist/Flying Crew-Chief, 62nd Maintenance Sq, McChord AFB, Wash.
3. Aug 2007 – Aug 2008, F110 Propulsion Journeyman, 8th Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
4. Sep 2008 – Nov 2009, F-16C/D Propulsion Journeyman, 20th Maintenance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. Dec 2009 – May 2014, HH-60G Flight Engineer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, G.A.
6. Jun 2014 – Sep 2016, HH-60G Evaluator Special Missions Aviator, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. Aug 2017 – Jun 2019 RQ-4 Pilot, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, California
8. Jun 2019 – Dec 2022, New Mexico Air National Guard, 188th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. July 2019 – Sep 2020, First Sergeant, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. Sep 2020 – Dec 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11. Dec 2022 – May 2024, Deputy Career Field Manager, SOF/PR Branch Chief HAF A3, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. May 2024 – Mar 2025, Special Warfare and In-Service Recruiting Branch Chief, ANGRC, Andrews AFB, MD.
13. Apr 2025 – Dec 2025, Directorate Senior Enlisted Leader, Recruiting & Retention, ANGRC, Andrews AFB, MD.
14. Jan 2026 – Present, Command Chief, 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY]
Rating: Unmanned Pilot, Flight Engineer, Special Mission Aviator
Total Flight hours: 2400
Aircraft flown: RQ-4, HH-60G, DA-20
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 C-17 (Flying Crew-chief) 800 Hrs
2007 Modern Army Combative, Instructor Course
2011 41st Rescue Squadron, Flight Engineer of the year
2012 Air Force, Cheney Award
2014 Air Education and training Command, NCO Sijan Award Nominee
2014 58th Special Operations Wing, NCO of the year
2014 Pitsenbarger Award for Education
2015 Commandant’s Award, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2016 AETC Master Instructor Badge
2016 1st Qualified Enlisted RPA Pilot in Air Force History
2018 12th Reconnaissance Squadron SNCO of the Year
2020 58th Special Operations Group SNCO of the Year
2022 Air Force SNCO Academy, Distinguished Graduate
2023 Air Force Headquarters SNCO of the Year
2024 Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Academy, Honor Graduate
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Air Force Enlisted Aircrew Chief Badge
Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems Badge
Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Badge
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
That Others May Live Foundation, Ambassador
Permanent Member Air Force Association
Permanent Member EANGUS
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic 2 July 2003
Airman First-Class 15 Aug 2003
Senior Airman 15 December 2005
Staff Sergeant 1 January 2009
Technical Sergeant 1 December 2014
Master Sergeant 1 April 2018
Senior Master Sergeant 1 March 2022
Chief Master Sergeant 1 August 2024
(Current as of Jan 2026)