Chief Master Sgt. Chad W. VanCleave-Goff is the command first sergeant, 8F career field functional manager, and headquarters senior enlisted leader for the Air Force District of Washington at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. In this position, he oversees the manning and utilization of all assigned AFDW first sergeants, serves as the approval authority for first sergeant applications, and manages deployment taskings. He also validates major command authorizations, conducts trend analysis, and coordinates on inter-command assignments and policy changes. Additionally, he serves as the primary advisor to the commander, command chief, and directors on issues impacting the health, morale, welfare, mission effectiveness, professional development, training, and effective utilization of headquarters active duty and civilian personnel. Furthermore, he maintains a mission-ready force to execute command, National Capital Region, and expeditionary mission requirements. He also serves as the 320th Expeditionary Wing first sergeant when activated. His reach impacts more than 33,000 military and civilian Airmen worldwide.
VanCleave-Goff grew up in Auburndale, Florida and enlisted in the Air Force in January 2002. He graduated from the Security Forces Academy Apprentice Course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in June 2002. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of leadership positions at the squadron, group, wing, and major command level. His assignments have included bases in Guam, Portugal, Germany, Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Ohio. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and to Afghanistan in support of Operations Freedom Sentinel and Resolute Support. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the senior enlisted leader for the 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
EDUCATION
2005 Airman Leadership School, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
2007 U.S. Army Military Police Investigations School, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
2010 Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration w/concentration in Criminal Justice Administration, Trident University International (TUI), Cypress, Calif.
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I (SEJPME I), by correspondence, Joint Forces Staff
College, Norfolk, Va.
2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2015 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (SEJPME II), by correspondence, Joint Forces Staff
College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Associate of Applied Science in Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 U.S. Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Essentials Graduate Certificate, Gies College of Business Professional and Executive Education, University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Graduate Certificate, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.
2023 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2023 U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Academy, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2002 – March 2002, Trainee, 320th Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. March 2002 – June 2002, Student, 343d Training Squadron, USAF Security Forces Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. June 2002 – March 2005, Entry Controller/Patrolman/Desk Sergeant, 36th Security Forces Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam (February 2003 – April 2004, Vocalist, Tops in Blue World Tour 2003, USAF Headquarters Services Agency, Randolph AFB, Texas)
4. March 2005 – June 2005, Desk Sergeant/Assistant Flight Sergeant, 65th Security Forces Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
5. June 2005 – July 2006, NCOIC, Wing Protocol, 65th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
6. July 2006 – May 2007, NATO Military Police Supervisor, NATO CC-AIR HQ RAMSTEIN, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
7. May 2007 – April 2009, Flight Chief/Chief of Security Forces Investigations, 45th Security Forces Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla. (February 2008 – September 2008, Criminal Investigator, 786th Security Forces Squadron/Det-6, Camp Taji, Iraq)
8. April 2009 – June 2010, Executive Assistant to the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla.
9. June 2010 – August 2011, Joint Staff Military Security Force NCO, The Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2011 – May 2013, Flight Chief/NCOIC, Elite Gate Guard/Operations Support NCO/Resource Advisor, 11th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
11. May 2013 – March 2017, Special Assistant to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. March 2017 – November 2018, First Sergeant, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron and 1st Special Operations Group Staff, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (May 2018 – November 2018, First Sergeant, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component-Afghanistan (CJSOAC-A), Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
13. November 2018 – January 2020, First Sergeant, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. January 2020 – October 2020, First Sergeant, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. October 2020 – May 2021, First Sergeant, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. May 2021 – May 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 88th Security Forces Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. (January 2022 – May 2022, Interim Senior Enlisted Leader, 88th Force Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.)
17. May 2022 – December 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 86th Security Forces Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany.
18. December 2023 – Present, Command First Sergeant, 8F Functional Manager, and Headquarters Senior Enlisted Leader, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2005 Distinguished Graduate and Commandant Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
2005 65th Air Base Wing Staff Agency, Airman of the Year
2008 45th Security Forces Squadron, NCO of the Year
2008 45th Security Forces Squadron, HQ USAF Security Forces Outstanding Security Forces NCO of the Year
2008 Brevard County, Chiefs’ of Police Officer of the Year
2012 11th Security Forces Squadron, HQ USAF Security Forces Outstanding Security Forces NCO of the Year
2012 11th Security Forces Squadron, NCO of the Year
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2017 Honor Graduate and Commandant Award, U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy
2017 1st Special Operations Group, First Sergeant of the Year
2018 1st Special Operations Wing, First Sergeant of the Year
2019 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2023 Honor Graduate, Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy