Chief Master Sergeant Christopher B. Grove is the Command Chief, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He is the principal advisor to the Wing commander on the effective utilization, professional development, combat readiness, and welfare of the Wing’s enlisted force. As the only Special Tactics wing in the Air Force, the 24 SOW conducts special operations force core activities with expertise in airpower application to lead global access, precision strike, personnel recovery, and battlefield surgical operations. It is comprised of two Special Tactics Groups and a Special Tactics Training Squadron, totaling 1,950 Special Tactics operators, Combat Mission Support personnel, and Special Operations Surgical Teams.
Chief Grove grew up in Medina, Ohio and entered the Air Force in May 1995. After completing security police technical school, he served as a response force member and deployed in support of Operation PACIFIC HAVEN while stationed at Misawa AB, Japan. Shortly after his assignment to Robins AFB, Ga. he entered the combat control pipeline in 1998. After completion of the training pipeline, he began serving at assignments in AFSOC and EUCOM. During these assignments, he completed multiple deployments with U.S. and coalition forces supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and UNIFIED RESPONSE. Throughout his career, he has filled positions as a Combat Control Team NCOIC, Instructor, Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) program manager, Operations Superintendent, Squadron Superintendent, and Group Superintendent.
EDUCATION
2000 Airman Leadership School, McChord AFB, WA.
2001 Associate Degree in Political Science, Community College of the Air Force
2002 Associate Degree in Airway Science, Community College of the Air Force
2003 Basic Instructor Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, FL.
2012 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-residence
2013 Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer PME Course, Non-residence
2015 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, Tampa, FL.
2018 Joint Special Operations University, Summit Course, Tampa, FL.
2019 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2019 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2019 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives Program, Chapel Hill, NC.
2019 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, MD.
2020 Global/Regional Course - Middle East and South Asia, Capitol Hill, DC
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Capitol Hill, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 1995 - Jul 1995, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX.
- Jul 1995 - Oct 1995, Security Police Technical School, Lackland AFB, TX.
- Oct 1995 - Oct 1997, Journeyman, Security Police, Misawa, Japan
- Oct 1997 - Oct 1998, Journeyman, Security Police, Robins AFB, GA.
- Oct 1998 - May 2000, Trainee, Combat Control Pipeline, Robins AFB, GA.
- May 2000 - Mar 2003, Craftsman, Combat Control, 22 STS, McChord AFB, WA.
- Mar 2003 - Jan 2007, Advance Skills Training Instructor, 720 OSS, Hurlburt Field, FL.
- Jan 2007 - Apr 2010, Chief of Weapons and STANEVAL, 23 STS, Hurlburt Field, FL.
- Apr 2010 - Aug 2015, Operations Superintendent, 22 STS, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA.
- Aug 2015 - Jul 2018, Squadron Superintendent, 321 STS, RAF Mildenhall, UK
- Jul 2018 - July 2020, Group Superintendent, 720 Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
- Aug 2020 - Present, Command Chief, 24 Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Silver Star
Bronze Star with Valor Device and five oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters