Chief Master Sergeant Michael Gardner is the Command Chief of the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. He is the principal enlisted advisor to the wing commander on the effective utilization, professional development, training, readiness, and welfare of the wing’s force and families.
CMSgt Gardner enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard in December 2002 where he was assigned to the 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from the Security Forces Basic Defender Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in October 2003, he served seven years as a Drill Status Guardsman before being selected as an Active Guard Reserve member. His background includes various duties at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.
Throughout Chief Gardner’s 23-year career, he’s deployed three times to multiple areas of operation including Iraq and Qatar in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOMS SENTINEL, VIGILANT GUARD, and CAPITOL RESPONSE. Prior to his current position, the Chief was the Senior Enlisted Leader, 104th Mission Support Group.
EDUCATION
2005 Airman Leadership School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. by correspondence
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2015 Associates in Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Antiterrorism Officer Level II, Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass.
2016 Evasion and Conduct After Capture Course, Lackland AFB, Texas 2017 Senior Enlisted Joint PME, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2017 DOD Mission Assurance Assessment Program, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, Ala.
2019 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Worcester State University, Worcester, Mass.
2021 Security Forces Advanced Course, Lackland AFB, Texas 2022 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2022 Master of Business Administration, University of Connecticut, Storrs.
2025 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003 – August 2003, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 2003 – October 2003, Student, Security Forces Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. October 2003 – January 2005, Security Forces Apprentice, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass
4. January 2005 – September 2008, Security Forces Journeyman, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass (March 2006 – September 2006, Security Forces Journeyman, Camp Sather Air Base, 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Baghdad Iraq) (March 2008 – September 2008, Security Forces Journeyman, Camp Sather AB, 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Baghdad Iraq)
5. September 2008 – August 2012, Security Forces Flight Sergeant, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass
6. August 2012 – January 2017, Flight Sergeant, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass (January 2017 – July 2017, Security Forces Management Qualification, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Qatar)
7. July 2017 – August 2019, Logistics Superintendent, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass
8. August 2019 – May 2021, Operations Superintendent, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass
9. May 2021 – September 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 104th Security Forces Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass
10. September 2022 - October 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 104th Mission Support Group, Barnes ANGB, Mass
11. October 2024 - Present, Command Chief, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes ANGB, Mass
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 NGB/A4S Air National Guard Security Forces Support Staff Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Massachusetts
American Legion Post 443
104th Fighter Wing Top 3 Council
104th Fighter Wing Chief Council
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class August 1, 2003
Senior Airman December 27, 2004
Staff Sergeant January 16, 2007
Technical Sergeant August 23, 2012
Master Sergeant June 30, 2015
Senior Master Sergeant March 17, 2020
Chief Master Sergeant April 20, 2022
(Current as of June 2026)