CMSgt Jason Trickey is the Command Chief, Third Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He serves as the principal advisor to the Commander on all matters concerning readiness and lethality of more than 30,000 Airmen across ten active-duty wings and 90 geographically separated units spanning more than 100 countries across two continents. Third Air Force is the sole Numbered Air Force for U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, serving U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, respectively.
Chief Trickey enlisted in the Air Force in June 1999. His background includes various duties in the air traffic control career field including tower, radar, and airspace management. The Chief has served as Senior Enlisted Leader at the squadron, group, and wing levels, with duty locations inclusive to Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Germany, Guam, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, South Korea, and Texas, and has deployed in direct support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current position, he was the Command Chief, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
EDUCATION
2003 Airman Leadership School, Beale AFB, Calif.
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2009 Associates of Applied Science in Airway Science, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2010 Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management, Thomas Edison State University, Trenton, N.J.
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course I, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course II, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Certificate in Executive Leadership, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
2020 Certificate in High Performance Leadership, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
2021 Master of Arts in Executive Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, The Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.
2024 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, The Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C.
2025 Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999 – July 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2. July 1999 – October 1999, Student, Air Traffic Control Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. October 1999 – June 2001, Air Traffic Controller, 314th Operations Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. June 2001 – September 2003, Watch Supervisor, 9th Operations Support Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
(June 2002 – November 2002, ATC Liaison Officer, 405th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Southwest Asia)
5. September 2003 – November 2004, Watch Supervisor, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan Air Base (AB), South Korea
6. November 2004 – August 2007, Watch Supervisor, 80th Operations Support Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
7. August 2007 – August 2011, Assistant Chief Controller, 36th Operations Support Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
(June 2010 – December 2010, Assistant Chief Controller, 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Ali AB, Iraq)
8. August 2011 – January 2015, Chief Controller, 71st Operations Support Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
(May 2013 – January 2014, Superintendent, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
9. January 2015 – June 2017, Superintendent, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of South Korea
10. June 2017 – September 2018, Superintendent, 28th Operations Support Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
11. September 2018 – February 2021, Superintendent, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
(October 2019 – June 2020, Superintendent, 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group, Al Asad AB, Iraq)
12. February 2021 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 355th Operations Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
13. June 2022 – October 2023, Command Chief, 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. October 2023 – June 2025, Command Chief, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. June 2025 – Present, Command Chief, Third Air Force, Ramstein AB, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Commandant’s Award, Gaylor NCO Academy
2012 SNCO of the Year, 71st Flying Training Wing
2014 Distinguished Graduate, USAF SNCO Academy
2014 Lance P. Sijan Award, Air Education and Training Command
2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year, Air Education and Training Command