View source for Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

{{short description|Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Space Force}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = Chief Master Sergeant
| body                    = the Space Force
| native_name             =
| insignia                = Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force service cap badge.png
| insigniasize            =
| insigniacaption         = CMSSF service cap badge
| insigniaalt             =
| flag                    = Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force.svg
| flagsize                =
| flagalt                 =
| flagborder              = yes
| flagcaption             = CMSSF flag
| image                   = CMSSF John F. Bentivegna.jpg
| style                   = Chief
| incumbent               = [[John F. Bentivegna]]
| acting                  =
| incumbentsince          = {{Start date|15 September 2023|df=y}}
| department              = [[United States Space Force]] <br/> [[Space Staff]]
| type                    = [[Senior enlisted advisor]]
| status                  =
| abbreviation            = CMSSF
| member_of               = The [[Space Staff]]
| reports_to              = [[Chief of Space Operations]]
| residence = [[Joint Base Andrews]], [[Maryland]]<ref name=residence>{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/04/28/space-forces-top-enlisted-leader-would-get-18-million-home-2023-budget-request.html|title=A $1.8 Million Home for Space Force's Top Enlisted Leader Is Included in the 2023 Budget Request|website=www.military.com|date=29 April 2022 }}</ref>
| seat                    =
| nominator               =
| appointer               = Chief of Space Operations
| appointer_qualified     =
| termlength              =
| termlength_qualified    =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor               =
| formation               = 3 April 2020
| first                   = [[Roger A. Towberman]]
| unofficial_names        =
| deputy                  =
| salary                  = $9,786.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/EM/|title = Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) - Effective January 1, 2023}}</ref>
| website                 = [https://www.spaceforce.mil/SFB/Display/Article/2136021/chief-master-sergeant-roger-a-towberman/ Official Website]
}}
The '''chief master sergeant of the Space Force''' ('''CMSSF''') is the [[senior enlisted advisor]] to the [[Chief of Space Operations|chief of space operations]] and the [[secretary of the Air Force]]. The chief master sergeant of the Space Force is the most senior [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] guardian in the [[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]], unless an [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] guardian is serving as the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the chairman]].<ref name="USSF20200403">{{cite web |title=CMSgt Towberman sworn in as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor for the U.S. Space Force |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2135959/cmsgt-towberman-sworn-in-as-the-first-senior-enlisted-advisor-for-the-us-space |publisher=United States Space Force Public Affairs |accessdate=2020-04-04 |date=2020-04-03 |last=Keller |first=MSgt Sara}}</ref>
==Appointment and responsibilities==
The [[chief of space operations]] appoints the chief master sergeant of the Space Force and is designated a special [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades|paygrade]] above [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States#Enlisted|E-9]]. To be appointed, the appointee must have at least 22 years of service and must have been a chief master sergeant for at least three years.<ref name=vet>{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/04/27/inside-space-forces-4-day-vetting-camp-pick-its-next-top-enlisted-leader.html|title=Here Are the 5 Candidates Who Could Be the Space Force's Next Top Enlisted Leader|first=Thomas|last=Novelly|date=April 28, 2023|website=Military.com}}</ref>
The chief master sergeant of the Space Force is the highest noncommissioned officer in the Space Force. The chief serves as the senior enlisted advisor to both the chief of space operations and the secretary of the Air Force on all matters regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and progress of Space Force enlisted members and their families.<ref name="USSF20200403"/>
==History==
The inaugural chief master sergeant of the Space Force, Chief Master Sergeant Roger A. Towberman, was sworn in on 3 April 2020, having previously served as the command chief master sergeant of the [[Air Force Space Command]], and concurrently serving as the senior enlisted leader of the [[United States Space Command]]. In addition to being the first chief master sergeant of the Space Force, he is also the second member of the Space Force and its first enlisted member.<ref name="USSF20200403"/>
The position was originally known as the '''senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force''' ('''SEASF''') from 3 April 2020 until it was renamed on 1 February 2021 to '''chief master sergeant of the Space Force''' ('''CMSSF''').<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pawlyk|first=Oriana|date=2021-01-29|title=These Are the Official Space Force Ranks|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/29/these-are-official-space-force-ranks.html|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Military.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, five chief master sergeants were considered to replace Towberman who is slated to retire. They went through a series of tests, which included an interview by an occupational psychologist, a mock U.S. Congress testimony, a mock town hall with airmen, and an interview with senior Space Force officials, that would guide General [[B. Chance Saltzman]]'s selection.<ref name=vet/> On May 5, 2023, Saltzman selected [[John F. Bentivegna]] to replace Towberman and serve as the second chief master sergeant of the Space Force. His assignment was announced on May 8, 2023.<ref name=next>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3388370/chief-master-sgt-john-bentivegna-selected-as-next-chief-master-sergeant-of-the/|title=Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna selected as next Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Space|website=United States Space Force|date=8 May 2023 }}</ref>
==Insignia==
The first rank insignia worn by the chief master sergeant of the Space Force, was based upon the rank insignia of the Air Force's [[chief master sergeant]] rank insignia, with other components, such as the two stars, designed to be consistent with the senior enlisted advisor rank of the other services. The delta, orbit, and globe elements at the center of the rank were taken from the [[seal of the United States Space Force]]. However, unlike the insignia of the [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]] which has a Laurel wreath around the central star within the rockers, the CMSSF insignia does not.<ref name="USSF20200403"/> On 20 September 2021, new insignia for all enlisted in the Space Force was introduced, including the CMSSF.<ref>[https://twitter.com/SpaceForceDOD/status/1439987571166257159 SpaceForceDOD Twitter, "Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman announced today the new design of the #SpaceForce's enlisted rank insignia." ]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hadley |first1=Greg |title=Space Force Reveals Insignia for Enlisted Ranks |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-reveals-insignia-for-enlisted-ranks/ |website=airforcemag.com |publisher=Air Force Magazine |access-date=2021-09-21|date=2021-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Toropin |first1=Konstantin |title=The Space Force Finally Has Its Own Rank Insignia |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/09/20/space-force-finally-has-its-own-rank-insignia.html |website=Military.com |access-date=2021-09-21|date=2021-09-20}}</ref>
<gallery class="center" caption="Rank insignia">
USSF SEASF.svg|2020–2021
USSF CMSSF Flat.svg|2021–present
</gallery>
== List of chief master sergeants of the Space Force==
[[File:Towberman named first Space Force senior enlisted advisor 200403-F-JJ904-1413.jpg|thumb|General [[John W. Raymond]], [[Chief of Space Operations]], swears in Roger A. Towberman as the first senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force while [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]] [[Barbara Barrett]] looks on, April 3, 2020.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name
! colspan=3| Term
! rowspan=2| [[Chief of Space Operations]]
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Duration
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| military_rank     = Chief Master Sergeant
| image             = CMSSF Roger A. Towberman.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Roger A. Towberman]]
| born_year         = 1967/1968
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 3 April 2020
| term_end          = 15 September 2023
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|3 April 2020|15 September 2023}}
| alt_officeholder  = [[John W. Raymond]]<br />[[B. Chance Saltzman]]
| ref               = <ref name="USSF20200403"/><ref name=Towberman>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/SFB/Display/Article/2136021/chief-master-sergeant-of-the-space-force-roger-a-towberman/|title=CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE SPACE FORCE ROGER A. TOWBERMAN|website=www.spaceforce.mil}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| military_rank     = Chief Master Sergeant
| image             = CMSSF John F. Bentivegna.jpg
| officeholder      = [[John F. Bentivegna]]
| born_year         = {{Circa|1976}}
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 15 September 2023
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|15 September 2023|}}
| alt_officeholder  = [[B. Chance Saltzman]]
| ref               = <ref name=Bentivegna>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/3387897/john-f-bentivegna/|title=CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOHN F. BENTIVEGNA|website=www.spaceforce.mil}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
}}
|}
=== Timeline ===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:500 height:auto barincrement:13
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/09/2019 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2020
Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y|-5 hours}}
Colors     =
id:cmssf value:rgb(0,0,1) legend: CMSSF
id:time value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)
Legend     = orientation:vertical position:right
LineData =
layer:back
width:0.1
color:time
at:01/01/2020
at:01/01/2021
at:01/01/2022
at:01/01/2023
at:01/01/2024
at:01/01/2025
BarData =
barset:PM
bar:spacer
bar:towberman
bar:bentivegna
bar:spacer
bar:spacer
PlotData=
width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
barset:PM
bar:towberman from:03/04/2020 till:15/09/2023 color:cmssf text:"[[Roger A. Towberman|Towberman]]"
bar:bentivegna from:15/09/2023 till:$now color:cmssf text:"[[John F. Bentivegna|Bentivegna]]"
}}
== Heritage portraits ==
Former chief master sergeants of the Space Force have portraits on permanent display in [[the Pentagon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3836749/secaf-unveils-portrait-of-first-cmssf/|title=SecAF unveils portrait of first CMSSF|date=2024-07-12|website=[[United States Space Force]]}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:CMSSF Towberman heritage portrait.jpg|CMSSF [[Roger A. Towberman]] (2020–2023)
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman]]
* [[Sergeant Major of the Army]]
* [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]]
* [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]]
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{US enlisted ranks}}
{{United States Space Force}}
{{Senior Enlisted Advisor}}
[[Category:Chief Master Sergeants of the Space Force|*]]
[[Category:Enlisted ranks of the United States Space Force]]
[[Category:Senior Enlisted Advisor|Space Force]]