Chief Master Sergeant Harry J. Kibbe is the Senior Enlisted Leader, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The Air Force Public Affairs Agency is a field operating agency reporting directly to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and provides operational control over one combat camera squadron and two audiovisual squadrons. As the senior enlisted leader, Chief Kibbe serves as the primary advisor to the agency commander on the effective use of 250 military, civilian and contractor personnel, responsible for providing imagery documentation of Air Force war-fighter and humanitarian relief missions; audiovisual production support; the public affairs visual information equipment purchasing program; the public web program; the branding and trademark licensing program. Additionally, the agency serves as the sole force provider for COMCAM forces in the Air Force.
Chief Master Sgt. Kibbe entered the Air Force in 1997 as a Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory apprentice. His background includes experience in the Electronic Systems, Broadcast Communications and Public Affairs career fields. Chief Kibbe is also a graduate of the Military Motion Media course at Syracuse University where he graduated with honors. He’s been stationed in Texas, Mississippi, Germany, Arizona, Turkey, Japan, New York, Korea, the Pentagon and Florida. He has deployed to Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Qatar in support of operations NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM and the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT). Prior to this assignment, he served as the Public Affairs Superintendent, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
EDUCATION
1997: Precision Measurement Laboratory Technician School, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2001: Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2007: Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2009: Associate of Science in Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2009: Associate of Science in Public Affairs, Community College of the Air Force
2016: Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course, Air University
2017: Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Knowledge Online
2019: Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Knowledge Online
2021: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Apr 1997 – Jul 1997, trainee, 331st Training Squadron, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. Jul 1997 – Mar 1998, student, 336th Training Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. Mar 1998 – Mar 2002, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory technician, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
4. Apr 2002 – Oct 2002, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory technician, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. Oct 2002 – Feb 2003, Basic Broadcast Production Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.
6. Feb 2003 – Mar 2005, Broadcast/Radio NCOIC, American Forces Network Incirlik, Incirlik AB, Turkey
7. Mar 2005 – Apr 2008, Broadcast Producer, Headquarters American Forces Network, San Antonio, Texas
(Sep 2006 – Jan 2007, Combat Documentation NCOIC, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
8. Apr 2007 – Jul 2010, Broadcast Production NCOIC, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
(Oct 2009 – Mar 2010, Broadcaster Public Affairs, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas Transit Center, Kyrgyzstan)
9. Jul 2010 – Jun 2011, Student, S.I. Newhouse – Military Motion Media Program, Syracuse, N.Y.
10. Jul 2011 – Dec 2015, Broadcast Marketing NCOIC, HQ AF Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas.
11. Dec 2015 – Dec 2017, Station Manager/Regional Operations Manager, American Forces Network Korea, Osan AB/Camp Humphreys, Korea
12. Dec 2017 – Jul 2020, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Public Affairs Advisor, Pentagon, Va.
13. Jul 2020 – Oct 2021, Public Affairs Superintendent, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. Oct 2021 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
AF Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2004 Thomas Jefferson Award, Broadcast News Program
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2010 Thomas Jefferson Award, Radio Entertainment Program
2011 S.I. Newhouse, Military Motion Media Program Top Graduate Award
2012 Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service NCO of the Year
2017 Defense Media Activity Pacific SNCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant June 2021
(Current as of July 2023)