Chief Master Sergeant Lester J. Largaespada serves as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He is responsible to the commander on a wide range of issues including the health, morale, welfare, professional development, and discipline of more than 7,000 personnel. The wing is responsible for all installation support functions to include communications, contracting, engineering, environmental, law enforcement, logistics, medical, security, services and force support for more than 11,000 assigned personnel and over 313,000 dependents, retirees and veterans. In addition, the wing also supports the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nevada Test and Training Range, 53rd Wing, 57th Wing, 432nd Wing at Creech AFB, Nevada; Tonopah Test Range; 52 tenant units, 171 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft assigned to Nellis AFB and more than 400,000 TDY personnel annually.
Chief Largaespada grew up in Plano, Texas and enlisted in the Air Force in June 1996. He has fulfilled various duties within the Civil Engineer career field as Pavements and Construction Equipment Craftsman, Operations Support Superintendent, Facilities Superintendent, and Operations Flight Superintendent. Additionally, he served in a special duty capacity as an International Military Student Manager for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Lackland AFB. His previous assignments include bases in North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Republic of Korea, and Germany. Chief Largaespada has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINAL, and Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. Prior to his current position, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader, 99th Mission Support Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
EDUCATION
1996 Pavements and Construction Equipment Apprentice Course, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.
2000 Airman Leadership School, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
2002 Civil Engineer Management Craftsman Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2007 Joint Security Assistance Training & Security Assistance Management Course Training Officer, Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2008 Associate of Applied Science in Construction Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2008 Latin-American Orientation Course, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2009 Associate of Applied Science in Communication Application Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I Course by correspondence, National Defense University
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Civil Engineer Superintendent Course, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II by correspondence, National Defense University
2021 Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Quality Management, Southwestern College, Winfield, Kan.
2021 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2021 Gettysburg Leadership Course, Academy Leadership, Juno Beach, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
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June 1996 – August 1996, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
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August 1996 – November 1996, Student, Pavements and Construction Equipment Technical School, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.
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December 1996 – March 2001, Pavements and Construction Equipment Journeyman, 319th Civil Engineer Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
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March 2001 – March 2002, Pavements and Construction Equipment Operator, 554 RED HORSE Squadron, Osan AB, ROK
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March 2002 – April 2005, Pavement and Construction Equipment Craftsman, 52d Civil Engineer Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
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May 2005 – September 2009, International Military Student Manager, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
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September 2009 – August 2011, NCOIC, Pavements and Equipment, 22d Civil Engineer Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
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August 2011 – April 2014, Superintendent, Operations Support, 22d Civil Engineer Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
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April 2014 – August 2015, Superintendent, Facilities, 22d Civil Engineer Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
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August 2015 – June 2019, Superintendent, Operations Flight, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
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June 2019 – August 2020, Senior Enlisted Leader, 460th Civil Engineer Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
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August 2020 – May 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
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June 2022 – December 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 99th Mission Support Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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December 2022 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six devices
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” Device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2000 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
2009 Inter-American Air Forces Academy Outstanding Student Support Professional of the Quarter
2011 22d Civil Engineer Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2013 22d Air Refueling Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter
2013 379 Expeditionary Mission Support Group Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Month
2018 2d Mission Support Group Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award