Chief Master Sergeant Sean M. Ellenburg is the Command Chief, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye. He serves as the principal advisor to 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. Chief Ellenburg 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 Ellenburg grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and entered the Air Force in April 2002. His professional background stems from the Helicopter Crew Chief career field and he has performed various aircraft maintenance related duties on MH-53M/J, HH-60G, Mi-17, and CV-22 aircraft. His assignments include bases in Alabama, Afghanistan, Arizona, Florida, and New Mexico. He has deployed multiple times in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Director of Operations & Policy and the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, located at Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Alabama. In that role, he led delivery of enlisted education & Professional Military Education across the Airman ship continuum for 423K total force personnel. He oversaw curricula for 68 ALS and all Foundations Courses, directed operations at ten NCO Academies, SNCO Academy, CCAF, AF Enlisted Heritage Research Institute, Chief's Leadership Course, & the Enlisted PME Instructor Course.
EDUCATION
2006 Airman Leadership School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2014 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Fla.
2016 Associates in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2016 USAF Jet Engine Mishap Investigation Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2018 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University
2019 United States Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2020 Bachelor of Science in Leadership, Trident University International
2021 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, JSOU, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2022 Leader Development Course for Squadron Command, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala
2024 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala
2024 Group Command Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2002 - May 2002, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2. May 2002 - November 2002, Student, Helicopter Maintenance Apprentice, Ft. Eustis, Va.
3. November 2002 - January 2006, Helicopter Crew Chief, 16 Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. January 2006 - March 2008, Dedicated Crew Chief, 16 Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. March 2008 - April 2009, MH-53J/M Flying Crew Chief, 1 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. April 2009 - June 2010, HH-60G Helicopter Crew Chief, 923 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
7. June 2010 - April 2011, HH-60G Flying Crew Chief, 923 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
8. April 2011 - August 2012, HH-60G Flight Line Expediter, 923 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9. August 2012 - November 2013, Rotary Wing Air Advisor, 440 Air Advisory Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan
10. November 2013 - December 2014, CV-22 Assistant Section Chief, 801 Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,
Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. December 2014 - January 2016, CV-22 Flight Line Expediter, 801 Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt
Field, Fla.
12. January 2016 - September 2016, CV-22 Inspection Section Chief, 801 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt
Field, Fla.
13. September 2016 - February 2019, CV-22 Production Superintendent, 801 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt
Field, Fla.
14. February 2019 - June 2021, CV-22 Special Mission Aircraft Superintendent, HQ AFSOC/A4MY, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. June 2021 - June 2022, AMU Superintendent, 20 Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 727 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron,
Cannon AFB, N.M.
16. June 2022 – July 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 727 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
17. July 2023- July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 58 Maintenance Group, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
18. July 2024- November 2025, Director of Operations and Policy/Senior Enlisted Leader, Barnes Center for Enlisted Education,
Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala
19. November 2025 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik AB, Türkiye.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant November 1, 2021
(Current as of November 2025)