Chief Master Sergeant Joshua R. "Josh" Tidwell is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. Air University is the intellectual and leadership-development center for the Air Force and Space Force, providing a full-spectrum of courses that graduate more than 50,000 resident and 120,000 non-resident officers, enlisted and civilian personnel each year to achieve national security objectives. He serves as the adviser to the Air University Commander on all matters affecting the quality, welfare, morale, readiness and leadership of service members assigned to more than 1,300 locations around the world.
Chief Tidwell was raised in Pell City, Alabama. After graduation from Pell City High School, he left home on February 24, 1999 for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. There, he attended Basic Military Training followed by the Air Transportation Apprentice Course from which he graduated in May 1999. After his formative years as an aerial porter, Chief Tidwell has served in various capacities ranging from squadron level to component command, including five years as a first sergeant and four years as a command chief, with eight deployments in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Commandant Air Force Senior NCO Academy. Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2005 Associate of Applied Science, Business Management, Community College of the Air Force
2006 Noncomissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2008 Professional Manager’s Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Air Force Senior Noncomissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2011 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2012 Associate of Applied Science, Human Resources Management, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2017 Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course, Gunter AFB, Ala.
2019 Command Chief Master Sergeants Training Course, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
2019 Bachelor of Science Degree, Psychology – Life Coaching, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2019 Transnational Issues, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, The Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Co.
2022 Eurasia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2023 Artificial Intelligence for National Security Leaders, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Mass.
2023 Air Force Strategic Leader Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 Keystone, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2025 Nominative Leader Course, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1999 – Apr 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1999 – May 1999, Trainee, Air Transportation Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. June 1999 – June 2001, Ramp Services Specialist, 436 Aerial Port Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
4. June 2001 – June 2003, Passenger Service Specialist, 723 Air Mobility Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
5. June 2003 – October 2005, Combat Readiness Instructor, 20 Logistics Readiness Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
6. October 2005 – July 2011, NCOIC, Airlift Operations, AFCENT Headquarters, Shaw AFB, South Carolina (August 2009 – July 2010, Operations Superintendent, 455 Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
7. August 2011 – October 2013, First Sergeant, 1 Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
8. December 2013 – July2014, First Sergeant, 633 Medical Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
9. August 2014 – April 2015, First Sergeant, 52 Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
10. April 2015 – August 2016, First Sergeant, 52 Logistics Readiness Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. August 2016 – August 2017, Superintendent, 60 Aerial Port Squadron, Travis AFB, California
12. August 2017 – May 2020, Vice Commandant Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Alabama
13. May 2020 – June 2022, Command Chief, 366 Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
14. June 2022 – June 2024, Command Chief, 48 Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England
15. June 2024 – July 2026, Commandant, Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Alabama
16. July 2026 - present, Command Chief, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Senior Airman Below the Zone
2003 Airman Leadership School John L. Levitow Award
2006 Air Combat Command Airlift/Tanker Association Halvorsen Award
2006 NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate
2008 9th Air Force HQ NCO of the Year
2009 Airlift/Tanker Association 12 Young Leader Award
2011 SNCO Academy John L. Levitow Award
2011 First Sergeant Academy Top Graduate Award
2013 Air Combat Command/First Sergeant of the Year 2012
2015 Maintenance Group First Sergeant of the Year 2014
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Aug. 25, 1999
Airman First Class June 25, 2000
Senior Airman Aug. 25, 2001
Staff Sergeant June 1, 2003
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2006
Master Sergeant July 1, 2009
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2012
Chief Master Sergeant March 1, 2016
(Current as of July 2026)