Chief Master Sergeant Celestino D. Madrid is the Command Chief, 352d Special Operations Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander for all matters pertaining to mission execution. Chief Madrid provides direction for the enlisted force and represents the interests, professional development, health welfare, readiness, and mission effectiveness of more than 1,200 personnel performing missions on the MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B Osprey aircraft. The 352d Special Operations Wing serves as the air arm for special operations forces in support of United States European Command and executes specialized air power and air-ground integration in support of Special Operations Command-Europe objectives.
Chief Madrid entered the Air Force on 10 June 1998 from Rhein Main AB, Germany via RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. His career includes experience as a Loadmaster, Special Mission Aviator, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Sensor Operator, and Senior Enlisted Leader for multiple units, most recently the 58th Operations Support Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Additionally, he was selected for First Sergeant duty while stationed at Cannon AFB, N.M. Chief Madrid has completed combat deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, along with countless contingency and humanitarian operations throughout locations around the globe.
EDUCATION
1998 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Tex (Honor Graduate)
2003 Airman Leadership School, RAF Feltwell, UK (Distinguished Graduate)
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2011 Associate in Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Course, JSOU, Virginia Beach, Va.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer PME, National Defense University, by correspondence
2014 Enterprise Management Course, CEP-2, Joint Special Operations University, correspondence
2015 Associate in Air and Space Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Joint Fundamentals Course, CEP-1, Joint Special Operations University, by correspondence
2016 US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy (SNCOA), USCGS Petaluma, Calif.
2016 Professional Managers Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2016 First Sergeant’s Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2018 Associate in Human Resources Management, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Bachelor of Liberal Arts/Management, Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y.
2020 Master of Business Administration Essentials Certificate, University of Illinois, Ill.
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course I & II, by correspondence
2020 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, CEP-3/JSOFSEA, Joint Special Operations University, Tampa, Fla.
2023 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2024 Project Manager Professional Certificate, Project Management Institute
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1999 - November 2002, C-141B Loadmaster, 4th & 8th Airlift Squadrons, McChord AFB, Wash.
2. November 2002 - November 2006, MC-130P Evaluator Loadmaster, 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK (Deployed Aircrew, Iraq, February - June 2003 & Evaluator Loadmaster, December 2005 – February 2006)
3. November 2006 - December 2010, Loadmaster, DATA MASKED (Deployed as Aircrew to various locations 2006- 2010)
4. December 2010 - August 2014, Do-328/C-146A Evaluator SMA/Superintendent, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M. (Deployed NCOIC Flight Operations, Africa, December 2011 - April 2012 & NCOIC Flight Operations, Singapore, October 2012 - February 2013)
5. August 2014 - April 2016, MQ-9 Sensor Operator/Operations Superintendent, 33d Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M. (Deployed J-3 NCOIC & Director of Operations, SOCAFRICA/JSOAD-UG/FOS OBO, October 2015 - February 2016)
6. April 2016 - February 2018, First Sergeant 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. February 2018 - August 2019, First Sergeant 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. August 2019 - October 2020, Senior Enlisted Leader, 1 st Special Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. October 2020 - October 2021, Group Staff Senior Enlisted Leader, 1 st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. October 2021 - August 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 73d Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. August 2022 - June 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 58th Operations Support Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
12. June 2023 - June 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 58th Operations Group, Kirtland AFB, NM
13. June 2024 – Present, Command Chief, 352d Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, UK
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Honor Graduate, Basic Military Training
2001 AMC Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the Year, Airman category
2002 Distinguished Graduate, C-130E Loadmaster Initial Qualification Course
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2003 Academic Award, Airman Leadership School
2003 Commandant’s Award, Airman Leadership School
2011 USAF First Sergeant Team of the Year Award
2014 Distinguished Graduate, Career Enterprise Program (CEP-1)
2014 Distinguished Graduate, MQ-9 Sensor Operator Initial Qualification Course
2014 Distinguished Graduate, MQ-9 Sensor Operator Mission Qualification Course
2014 Spirit 03 Academic Achievement Award, MQ-9 Sensor Operator Mission Qualification Course
2016 Altus Tendo “REACH” & Presidential Fitness Challenge Awards, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Academy
2017 AFSOC 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, First Sergeant
2017 USAF First Sergeant of the Year
2021 1st Special Operations Wing Lance P. Sijan Award
(Current as of June 2024)