CMSgt Kathleen McCool Published Sept. 12, 2025 CMSgt Kathleen McCool Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen McCool is the Command Chief for U.S. Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Chief McCool is the first female Command Chief of PACAF and serves 46,000 Airmen while advising the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, on readiness, training, professional development, personnel, and resources. Chief McCool began her career as a Health Services Management Apprentice before serving as a Military Training Instructor, a recruiter, Squadron Superintendent, and several senior enlisted advisor positions at the Squadron, Group, and Wing levels. Before joining PACAF, she was Command Chief at Second Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi; Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan; 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; and 53d Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. A native of Buckeye, Arizona, she enlisted in the Air Force in 1995. During her career, Chief McCool has received several major awards and decorations to include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star device, Global War on Terrorism Defense Medal, and Outstanding Airman of the Year with bronze star device. Register for the LREC10 Virtual Symposium to see CMSgt. McCool and many other speakers on 5-7 Nov.
