Chief Master Sergeant James R. Tritle currently serves as the senior enlisted member of the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, Boise, Idaho. He is the primary advisor to the commander on matters affecting the morale, health, welfare and professional development of more than 1,100 enlisted members. He is the vital link between the commander, enlisted personnel and support agencies.
CMSgt Tritle entered the Air Force in December 1997. Following completion of Basic Military Training and the Fuels Apprentice Course (POL) at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, he was assigned to the 354th Supply Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, as a Fuels Hydrant System Operator. In 2002, he moved south to the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash. where he filled several roles to include: Fuels Control Center Accountant, Fuels Distribution shift supervisor, and the first Fairchild POL Refueling Maintenance NCOIC, where he successfully executed the POL and Refueling Maintenance merger. While assigned to Fairchild, Chief Tritle completed multiple deployments in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. In February of 2009, he returned to the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska where he worked as the Fuels Operations Element NCOIC. In 2011, Chief Tritle became a member of the 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron as the NCOIC of Individual Equipment and eventually as the Material Management warehouse Chief Inspector. Later, the Chief was named Plans & Integration Superintendent, overseeing the readiness and deployment of over 700 Alaska Air Guardsmen and nine KC-135 aircraft.
Prior to assuming his current position, he was the Superintendent of the 124th Operations Group, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.
EDUCATION
1998 Fuels Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2002 Associate of Applied Science Degree, Logistics, Community College of the Air Force
2002 Airman Leadership School, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2006 Refueling Equipment Maintenance Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (Correspondence)
2011 Materiel Management Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 Bachelor of Science degree, Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
2013 Senior Enlisted Joint PME (Correspondence)
2013 Professional Managers Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Logistics Plans Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2015 Logistics Readiness LOG-R SNCO Course (Correspondence)
2015 Contingency Wartime Planners Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Business Administration Degree, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
2017 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase I, FEMA (Correspondence)
2017 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase II, FEMA, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
2018 ANG Chiefs Executive Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint PME II (Correspondence)
2019 Contemporary Base Issues, Helena, Mont.
2019 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pa.
2020 Asia/Far East Regional Seminar, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
December 1997-February 1998, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
February 1998-April 1998, Student, Fuels Management Technical Training, 366th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
April 1998-April 2002, Fuels Hydrants Operator, 354th Supply Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
April 2002-February 2009, Fuels Distribution Supervisor, 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash. (March 2003-April 2003, 485th Air Expeditionary Wing, Tabuk Regional Airport, Saudi Arabia, April 2003-July 2003, 455th Air Expeditionary Group, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, September 2006-January 2007, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, May 2008-September 2008, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
February 2009-September 2011, Fuels Operations Supervisor, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska (August 2009-December 2009, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan)
September 2011-February 2014, Materiel Management Supervisor, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
February 2014-March 2017, Plans and Integration Superintendent, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
March 2017-January 2019, Squadron Superintendent, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
January 2019-June 2020, Operations Group Superintendent, 124th Operations Group, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
June 2020-Present, Wing Command Chief, 124th Fighter Wing, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Idaho Service Ribbon
Alaska State Commendation Medal
Alaska Governor’s Unit Citation
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2008 92nd Fuels Management Flight NCO of the Year
2011 Top Graduate, Materiel Management Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2014 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron Member of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Dec. 29, 1997
Airman First Class Oct. 29, 1998
Senior Airman Dec. 29, 2000
Staff Sergeant Jan. 1, 2003
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2006
Master Sergeant Dec. 5, 2012
Senior Master Sergeant March 17, 2015
Chief Master Sergeant May 19, 2017
(Current as of January 2022)