Chief Master Sgt. Clifford L. Lawton is the command chief master sergeant for the 11th Wing, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. He advises the commander and staff on matters of readiness, morale and welfare, and effective utilization of approximately 1,500 personnel providing exceptional host installation support to more than 17,000 military and civilian professionals and their families. The approximately 1,000-acre installation is home to approximately 70 mission partners including Marine Helicopter Squadron One, the White House Communications Agency, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, the Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Coast Guard Station Washington, and Navy and Air Force Ceremonial Guards.
Chief Lawton entered the Air Force in May 1999. He graduated from the Electronic Warfare Systems Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in January 2000 and later retrained into the Intelligence Operations career field in December 2005. His background includes a myriad of roles in leadership and technical positions at the squadron, group, and combatant command levels. His assignments include bases in Mississippi, Korea, Virginia, Florida, Qatar, Texas, and Illinois. Chief Lawton also deployed overseas in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Prior to this assignment, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, European Missions Operations Center, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany.
EDUCATION
2003 Airman Leadership School, Langley AFB, Va.
2009 Associate Degree in Avionic Systems, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Associate Degree in Communications Application Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, by distance learning
2013 Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona Beach, Fla.
2014 Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, Webster Groves, Mo.
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Air Combat Command Chief Master Sgt. Orientation Course, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
2018 Chief Master Sgt. Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2021 Command Chief Master Sgt. Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 1999 – July 1999, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
- July 1999 – January 2000, Student, Electronic Warfare Systems Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
- January 2000 – January 2001, Electronic Warfare Systems Apprentice, 8th Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
- February 2001 – April 2003, Electronic Warfare Systems Journeyman, 10th Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
- May 2003 – May 2005, Advanced Programs Team Leader, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- June 2005 – December 2005, Student, Intelligence Operations Apprentice Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- January 2006 – February 2008, NCOIC Intelligence Systems Element, 1st Operations Support Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
- March 2008 – March 2009, NCOIC Intelligence Support Element, Special Operations Command Central, Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar
- April 2009 – October 2013, NCOIC Current Operations, 26th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- November 2013 – September 2015, Operations Superintendent, Intelligence Operations Division, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- October 2015 – November 2016, Superintendent, Commander’s Action Group, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- December 2016 – December 2017, Superintendent, 497th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base Langley- Eustis, Va.
- January 2018 – July 2020, Superintendent, 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- August 2020 – April 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, European Cryptologic Center, Damstadt, Germany.
- May 2021 – May 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, European Mission Operations Center, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany
- June 2022 – Present, Command Chief Master Sgt., 11th Wing, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Senior Airman Below-The-Zone
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Intelligence Operations Apprentice Course 2010 26th Operations Support Squadron NCO of the Year
2011 Air Force Association Alamo Chapter Kellogg Blue Suit Award
2012 Air Force Association Alamo Chapter Kellogg Blue Suit Award
2012 26th Operations Support Squadron SNCO of the Year 2012 26th Network Operations Group SNCO of the Year 2012 67th Network Warfare Wing SNCO of the Year
2014 375th Air Mobility Wing Excellence Award
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant Dec. 1, 2017
(Current as of June 2022)