UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT STEPHEN R. LUDWIG
Chief Master Sergeant Stephen Ludwig is the Command
Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He advises the
Superintendent and senior staff on matters of military
readiness, morale, quality of life and professional
development of more than 6,000 personnel at the
Academy. The Chief also serves as the Superintendent’s
enlisted representative on numerous committees, councils
and boards. The Academy provides a highly structured
four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic
and character development programs to prepare
outstanding young men and women to become Air Force
officers motivated to lead American Airmen in the world’s
greatest air, space and cyberspace force.
Chief Ludwig grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and Hastings,
Nebraska, and entered the Air Force in January 1984.
His background includes various duties in precision
measurement equipment maintenance, professional
military education and three tours as a Command Chief.
He has been stationed at locations in Colorado,
Washington, Alaska, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy
and the Republic of Korea. His career highlights include
being selected as a United States Air Forces in Europe
Master Technician, an Air Training Command Master
Instructor, and the Air Force Professional Military Education Manager of the Year. Chief Ludwig was the
Chief, Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Management Office before assuming his current position.
EDUCATION
1985 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course, Royal Air Force Feltwell, United Kingdom
1987 Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Royal Air Force Upwood, United Kingdom
1992 Associate Degree in Instructional Technology, Community College of the Air Force
1992 Associate Degree in Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
1995 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun AS, Germany
2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2006 USAF Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, California
2007 USAF Senior Leadership Course, Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania
2008 Air Force Enterprise Management Seminar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2008 Keystone, National Defense University, Ft. Leslie J. McNair, Washington, DC
2010 Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology, Grantham University, Missouri
2012 Strategic Mindset Course, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1984 – March 1984, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. March 1984 – November 1984, student, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Specialist
Course, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado
3. December 1984 – December 1987, Technician, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory,
48th Component Repair Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath United Kingdom
th
th
4. December 1987 – June 1992, Instructor, Electronic Principles Division, 3420 and 3450 Technical
Training Groups, 3400th Technical Training Wing, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado
5. June 1992 – June 1996, Technician and Logistics Support NCO, Test Measurement and Diagnostic
Equipment Laboratory, 48th Component Repair Squadron, 48th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath
United Kingdom
6. June 1996 – July 2000, Instructor and Director of Resources, Kisling NCO Academy, United States Air
Forces in Europe, Kapaun AS, Germany
7. July 2000 - December 2001, Airman Leadership School Flight Chief, 31st Mission Support Squadron,
31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy
8. December 2001 - July 2003, Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Flight Chief, 62d
Maintenance Squadron, 62d Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Washington
9. August 2003 - June 2004, Director of Education, Kisling NCO Academy, United States Air Forces in
Europe, Kapaun AS, Germany
10. June 2004 - March 2006, Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Flight Chief, 86th
Maintenance Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. April 2006 – September 2006, Group Superintendent, 86th Maintenance Group, 86th Airlift Wing,
Ramstein AB, Germany
12. October 2006 – June 2008, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB,
Alaska
13. June 2008 – Nov 2009, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los
Angeles, California
14. November 2009 – October 2010, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base,
Republic of Korea
15. October 2010 – March 2012, Chief of the Chiefs’ Group, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and
Personnel, Washington, D.C.
16. April 2012 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
Coolorado
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 John L. Levitow Honor Graduate Award, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
1995 Third Air Force Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
1997 Headquarters United State Air Forces in Europe, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
1999 United States Air Force Professional Military Education Manager of the Year
2001 John L. Levitow Honor Graduate Award, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2001 United States Air Forces in Europe, Airman Leadership School Flight Chief of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class Mar 14, 1984
Senior Airman Jan 14, 1986
Sergeant Jan 14, 1987
Staff Sergeant Oct 1, 1988
Technical Sergeant May 1, 1994
Master Sergeant Jun. 1, 1998
Senior Master Sergeant Feb. 1 2002
Chief Master Sergeant Dec. 1, 2004
(Current as of Apr 2012)