CMSgt Derrick L. Sherrod is the Command Chief of the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye. In this role, he advises the Wing Commander on matters related to readiness, training, utilization, health, welfare, morale, and professional development for approximately 3,500 U.S. military, civilian, and contractor personnel assigned to Incirlik Air Base and five geographically separated units. Additionally, Chief Sherrod provides counsel on Base Operations Support Integrator activities, supporting Türkiye-based Joint and Combined combat forces conducting operations in the United States European Command and the United States Central Command areas of responsibility.
Chief Sherrod enlisted in the Air Force in March 1999. He graduated as an apprentice from the Security Forces Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In 2004, Chief Sherrod cross-trained as a Telecommunications Apprentice at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. His assignments include bases in Texas, Arkansas, California, Nebraska, South Korea, Maryland, United Arab Emirates, South Carolina, Virginia, and Germany, where he served at the squadron, wing, numbered air force, major-command, combatant command, and joint duty levels in mission support, cyber, intelligence, and space. Prior to his current position, the Chief was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 65th Air Base Group at Lajes Field, Portugal.
Chief Sherrod also graduated from the Air Force First Sergeant Academy in March 2016 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. As a First Sergeant, he served at the squadron, group, national joint agencies, and major command levels. He has deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
2003 Airman Leadership School, Beale AFB, Calif.
2003 Electronic Security Systems Operator Course, San Antonio, Texas
2009 AVAYA Voice Network Switching Coarse, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2009 Associate Degree, Criminal Justice and Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Bachelor of Science, Information Systems Management, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
2011 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan
2012 CISCO Call Manager VOIP Course and Certified Ethical Hacker Course, University of Maryland
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Joint Professional Military Education, (by correspondence)
2014 Professional Manager Certification, Air university, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2016 Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, Project Management Institute
2016 Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter, Ala.
2016 Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Maxwell-Gunter, Ala.
2017 Associate Degree, Human Resources Management, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Joint Professional Military Education II (by correspondence)
2020 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2021 Senior Legal Orientation Course, Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 SLD Regional Seminar: Middle East Asia, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2024 Graduate Certificate, Strategic Human Resources, Cornell University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1999 - May 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. May 1999 - August 1999, Student, Security Police Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. August 1999 - March 2001, Entry Controller, 314th Security Forces Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. March 2001 - May 2004, NCOIC Electronic Security Systems, 9th Security Forces Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
5. May 2004 - May 2007, Security Forces Desk Sergeant, 314th Security Forces Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. November 2004-July 2005, Fire Team Lead, Camp Bucca, Iraq
7. May 2007 - August 2010, NCOIC Communications Focal Point, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8. August 2010 - August 2011, NCOIC Telephone Maintenance, 694 Intelligence Squadron, United States Army Garrison Yongsan, Korea
9. August 2011 - October 2013, NCOIC Global Command Communications Center, Fort Meade, Md.
10. October 2013 - October 2014, NCOIC Network Projects & Engineering, J65, United States Forces Korea, Yongsan, Korea
11. November 2014 - February 2016, Communications Manager, Air Warfare Center, Air Force Central Command, UAE
(July - November 2015, First Sergeant, 380th Expeditionary Medical Group)
12. March 2016 - October 2016, First Sergeant, 437th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
13. October 2016 - August 2018, First Sergeant, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
14. August 2018 - March 2019, First Sergeant, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
15. March 2019 - June 2020 First Sergeant, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
16. June 2020 - May 2021 Senior Enlisted Leader, Cyber Operations Group, National Reconnaissance Office (USSF) Chantilly, Va.
17. May 2021 - December 2022, Command First Sergeant/8F000 Functional Manager, Headquarters United States Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa
18. December 2022 - July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 17th Mission Support Group, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
(April-July 2023, Interim Command Chief, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas)
19. July 2024 - February 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 65th Air Base Group, Lajes Field, Portugal
20. February 2025 - present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik AB, Türkiye
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Medal for Superior Service (Silver)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Navy Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal with three service stars
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Security Forces Airman of the Year, Beale AFB, Calif.
2013 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, United States Forces Korea
2014 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee (SNCO), United States Forces Korea
2015 Information Dominance Cyber Operations SNCO of the Year, Air Force Central Command, S.C.
2015 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee, Air Warfare Center, United States Air Force Central Command, S.C.
2017 South Carolina Air Force Association Member of the Year, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
2019 First Sergeant of the Year, 437th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class May 1, 1999
Senior Airman July 24, 2001
Staff Sergeant May 1, 2003
Technical Sergeant April 1, 2009
Master Sergeant April 22, 2014
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2017
Chief Master Sergeant July 1, 2020
(Current as of April 2025)