Chief Master Sergeant Walter Gooch is the Medical Group Superintendent, 192d Fighter Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, Langley AFB, VA. He serves as advisor to the Group Commander. Performing duties at the operational level to include; managing personnel resource activities, Interpreting and enforcing policies and applicable directives, establishing control procedures to meet mission goals and standards, recommending or initiating actions to improve organizational operation efficiency, ensuring the management of personnel and resources are consistent with current practices and procedures in support of the organization's mission, directing, observing, and evaluating the effectiveness of training programs, availability and combat readiness of assigned personnel, operations and adequacy of support programs, assisting the commander in formulating plans and establishing policies for unit administration, organization, operation, training and assisting the commander in executing their charge of leading their units in combat and contingencies.
Chief Master Sergeant Gooch joined the United States Air Force in 1987, upon High School graduation, and served four years active duty as an Avionics Navigation Aircraft Specialist. Major events included technical training at Keesler AFB, Duty assignment to Rhein-Main AB, Frankfurt, West Germany, and a ten month deployment to many Middle Eastern countries in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and PROVIDE COMFORT. Upon honorable discharge in 1991, Chief Gooch joined the Virginia Air National Guard as a traditional Guardsman. In 1992 he was hired as a full time technician in the Avionics section. He returned to traditional status one year later to accept a Department of Defense civilian position with the Defense Logistics Agency in Richmond in 1993 as an Electronics mechanic. Chief Gooch's has continued this complimentary dual career path to the present. The skills, training, and life experiences acquired in one career have helped with growth and advancement in the other. This is one the great benefits of being a traditional guardsman. His military career has involved a progression from aircraft mechanic, supervisor, avionics flight chief, to group superintendent. His civilian career has involved a progression from WG-11 electronics mechanic, network administrator, server team supervisor, Information technology subject matter expert, application development program supervisor, project manager to GS-14 Information Technology Program Manager.
EDUCATION:
1988 Avionics Navigation Specialist Technical School, Keesler AFB, MS
1995 Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory Military Course, Correspondence
1999 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence
2000 Associates degree in Avionic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2005 Cisco Certified Network Professional Certification
2006 ISC2 Certified Information System Security Professional Certification
2009 Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology Management, Strayer University, VA
2009 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence
2012 Program Management Certification, Defense Acquisition University
2013 Information Technology Management Certification, Defense Acquisition University
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Aug 1987 - Oct 1987, USAF Basic Military Training Lackland AFB, TX
2. Oct 1987 - Jul 1988, USAF Avionics Navigation Training Keesler AFB, TX
3. Jul 1988 - Aug 1991, C-130 Avionics Specialist 435 FMS Rhein-Main AB West Germany
4. Aug 1991 - Feb 2003 F-16 Avionics Specialist, 192d FW Sandston VA
5. Feb 2006 - Oct 2007, Debrief/Maintenance Operations Control, 192d FW MOF Sandston VA
7. Oct 2007 - Jan 2010, F-22 Aircraft Specialist192d FW AMXS, Langley AFB, VA
8. Jan 2010 - Jul 2014 - Flight Chief 192d FW AMXS, Specialist Flight Langley AFB, VA
9. Jul 2014 - Present, Superintendent, 192d MDG, Langley AFB, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with seven devices
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two devices
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one device
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
AF Overseas Ribbon Long
AF Longevity Service with two devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Virginia National Guard Commendation Medal
Virginia National Guard Service Ribbon with nine devices
Virginia National Guard Perfect Attendance Ribbon with two devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
1988 Honor Graduate, Avionics Navigation Specialist Technical School, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
1992 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 192d FW, Sandston, Virginia
2009 Summa cum laude, BS, Strayer University, VA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman February 24, 1988
Airman First Class December 24, 1988
Senior Airman August 24, 1990
Staff Sergeant June 6, 1995
Technical Sergeant March 12, 2002
Master Sergeant April 15, 2008
Senior Master Sergeant August 10, 2010
Chief Master Sergeant April, 2015
(Current as of Sep 2015)