Chief Master Sgt. Cruz A. Rosales is the Wing Command Chief assigned to the 152nd Airlift Wing at the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno, Nev. The 152nd Airlift Wing is responsible for providing world-class tactical airlift capabilities to state and federal authorities as well as providing combat support forces to combatant commanders. Chief Master Sgt. Rosales is the principal senior enlisted advisor to the wing commander on all enlisted matters regarding the health, morale, welfare, professional development, discipline and readiness for over eight hundred enlisted personnel.
Chief Master Sgt. Rosales began his military career within the walls of Marine Recruit Training Depot, San Diego, Calif. in December of 1994. After boot camp he was assigned to Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, Calif. In 1995, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Millington, Tenn. to study his military operation specialty (MOS), Avionics Systems. After completion of the Avionics Systems course, Chief Master Sgt. Rosales learned specialized aircraft training on AH-1W Super Cobra and Huey, working in various squadrons in Marine Air Group (MAG) 39, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He deployed to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Okinawa, Japan in 1998. He was honorably discharged in 1999 from the Marine Corps. In 2001, he enlisted into the Indiana Air National Guard and was assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing (FW), as an Aircraft Structural Repairman stationed at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base in Fort Wayne, Ind. He deployed in 2006 and 2007 with the 122nd FW in support of Iraqi Freedom. In May of 2011, Chief Master Sgt. Rosales became the First Sergeant for 122nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base, Ind. Chief Rosales deployed in 2016 as the Communications First Sergeant assigned to the 380th Fighter Wing, Al Dalfhra Air Base in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. He then became the 122nd Fighter Wing and 122nd Operations Group First Sergeant in December of 2017. In 2018, Chief Rosales was selected as the 122nd Mission Support Group Superintendent and served there until transferring to the Nevada Air National Guard in 2022. Prior to his current position, Chief Rosales was assigned to the 152nd Maintenance Group as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Nevada Air National Guard Base, Reno, Nev.
EDUCATION
1997 Corporals Course, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
2011 First Sergeants Academy, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Course, Correspondence
2013 Associate Degree, Human Resources/Aircraft Maintenance, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Associate Degree, Aviation Technology, Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, Ind.
2020 ANG Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994-December 1994, Student, Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot, San Diego, Calif.
2. ​January 1995- February 1995, Student, Marine Combat Training Camp Pendleton, Calif.
3. February 1995- September 1995, Student, Avionics Systems Course, Naval Air Station Millington, Tenn.
4. September 1995- January 1998, 6324 Avionics Technician, Unit, HMT 303, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
5. January 1998-September 1999, 6324 Avionics Technician, Unit, HMLA 267 Camp Pendleton, Calif.
6. March 2001- October 2022, Job Title, 122nd Fighter Wing, Indiana Air National Guard Base, Fort Wayne, Ind.
7. October 2022- June 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 152nd Maintenance Group, Nevada Air National Guard Base, Reno, Nev.
8. June 2025– current, Command Chief, 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard Base, Reno, Nev.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Overseas Service deployment Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 122nd Fighter Wing
2013 Outstanding Airman of the Year, Indiana Air National Guard
2019 Iron Man Finisher
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Private First Class (Marine) December 6, 1994
Lance Corporal (Marine) August 1, 1995
Corporal (Marine) September 15, 1996
Sergeant (Marine) September 3, 1999
Staff Sergeant (Air Force) December 20, 2000
Technical Sergeant (Air Force) June 14, 2007
Master Sergeant (Air Force) February 15, 2011
Senior Master Sergeant (Air Force) February 01, 2015
Chief Master Sergeant (Air Force) April 13, 2018
(Current as of August 2025)