CHIEFMASTERSERGEANT JAMES A. WELBORN
Chief Master Sergeant James A Welborn is the in-flight refueling program manager for the 314thAir Refueling Squadron Beale Air Force Base, Calif. He is responsible for the training and flight qualifications of all assigned KC-135R/T boom operators. He works closely with the operations group commander insuring
that all assigned KC-135R/T boom operators have the skill and training to deploy to any forward operating areas when activated.
ChiefMasterSergeant Welborn entered the Air Force in June of 1973 and completed his technical training in the KC-135A at Castle AFB, Calif. His follow on assignment was to Carswell AFB,Texas were he participated in rotations to Utapao FieldThailandsupporting Young Tiger Task Force Operations in Southeast Asia at the end of the Vietnam War. He attended the Central Flight Instructor Course at Carswell AFB,Texas in June of 1977 and was assigned to Travis AFB Calif. in August of 1978. He left active duty in August of 1979 and went to work for the Santa Cruz Sheriffs Department. In 1983 he joined the KC-10A Reserve Unit at March AFB Calif.
After attending the KC-10A training school at Barksdale AFB La, he returned to March AFB and accepted a full- time position as an air reserve technician. During the next several years he was involved in numerous operations to include OperationsEldoradoCanyon, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and many other highly visible taskings to include the 1987 USAF Thunderbird Tour to Asia. He was selected to serve as the in-flight refueling manager in 1988 and continued to serve in that capacity until he was asked to take on the same responsibility with the 314th ARS at Mather AFB in 1992. He transitioned back to the KC-135E in 1992 and worked through Base Realignment and Closure Commission relocation to McClellan AFB Calif., then on to Beale Air Force Base transitioning to the KC-135R/T model. The unit has won the Reserve Outstanding Unit Award five years in a row while being activated for numerous operations to includeRestore Hope, Deny Flight, Northern and Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom. He continues to serve as the in-flight refueling program manager as the unit approaches realignment to the RQ-4 Global Hawk in 2009.
EDUCATION
1968 Associates Degree,Yuba College, Marysville, Calif.
1971 Bachelor of Arts Degree,CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge, Calif.
1979 Noncommissioned OfficerAcademy, (Correspondence)
1979 Noncommissioned Supervisory Development Course
1989 SeniorNoncommissioned OfficerAcademy (Correspondence)
1990 Effective Tools for Effective Leaders Course
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 1973-August 1973 Basic Training Lackland AFB,Texas
- August 1973-August 1978 Boom Operator 7th ARS Carswell AFB,Texas
- August 1978- August 1979 Boom Operator 916thARS Travis AFB, Calif.
- September 1983- April 1992 Chief Boom Operator79th ARS March AFB,Calif.
- April 1992-March 1993 Chief Boom Operator 314th ARS Mather AFB, Calif.
- April 1993-February 1997 Chief Boom Operator McClellan AFB,Calif.
- March 1997-Present Chief Boom Operator 314ARS Beale AFB, Calif.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one device
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
Air Force Achievement Medal with one device
AF Outstanding Unit Award with six devices
Combat Readiness Medal with 10 devices
AF Good Conduct medal with two devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with six devices
National Defense Service Medal with two devices
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one device
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two devices
Kosovo Campaign Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with one device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service with five devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with five “M” Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon with one device
NATO Medal with one device
KuwaitLiberationMedalKingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Outstanding performance for flight recognition 2004 Aircrew StandardizationEvaluation Inspection
Recipient of the Bob Hope Reserve Aircrew Excellence Award in 2005
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant: Jan 24, 1992
(Current as of Dec. 1, 2006)