Chief Master Sergeant Joshua A. VanDerbeck is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He advises the commander on all issues regarding the health, welfare, readiness, and morale affecting the wing's 1,900 enlisted force personnel. The wing’s mission is to rapidly employ combat power, through maintenance and employment of the Air Force’s first combat operational F-35A unit with a 78 aircraft fleet worth $7.5B. The wing ensures combat readiness to deploy, employ and sustain F-35 aircraft worldwide, to fly, fight and win. Chief VanDerbeck represents the interests of the 388th Fighter Wing Airmen across Hill AFB and throughout the local community.
Chief VanDerbeck entered the Air Force in October 2003. He has held various roles in fighter aircraft maintenance, including assignments as a Test Evaluator on the RQ-4 Global Hawk and Production Superintendent on the F-35. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the F-35 Weapon System Team assigned to the Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection Directorate, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., where he advised the Director on Air Combat Command's F-35 weapon system sustainment, modernization, and warfighter advocacy in support of 458 F-35 aircraft and equipment assets.
EDUCATION
2004 F-16 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Airman Leadership School, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
2009 Associate of Applied Science, Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Service Professional Military Education Course I and II
2016 Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2017 Bachelor of Science, Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2020 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air Force Leadership Development Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Master of Arts in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership, American Military University, Charlestown, W.V.
2023 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2024 Program Management Professional Certification, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
2025 U.S. Air Force Wing Command Chief Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 U.S. Air Force Mission Integration Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2003 – November 2003, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 2003 – January 2004, Student, Electronic Principles, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. January 2004 – July 2004, Student, F-16 Integrated Avionics, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. July 2004 – August 2007, Avionics Systems Journeyman, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
5. August 2007 – October 2009, Logistics Test Evaluator, 412th Logistics Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
6. October 2009 – April 2011, Ceremonial Guardsmen, 95th Force Support Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
7. April 2011 - November 2011, Parade Element Supervisor, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
8. November 2011 – April 2012, Drill Team Supervisor, U.S.A.F Honor Guard, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
9. April 2012 – February 2013, Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge, Drill Team Operations, U.S.A.F Honor Guard, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
10. February 2013 – April 2013, NCIOC, Drill Team Training, U.S.A.F Honor Guard, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
11. April 2013 – May 2014, NCOIC, Drill Team, U.S.A.F Honor Guard, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.
12. May 2014 – December 2014, F-35 Integrated Avionics Expeditor, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
13. December 2014 – April 2015, F-35 Flightline Expeditor, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
14. April 2015 – July 2017, F-35 Integrated Avionics Section Chief, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
15. July 2017 – February 2019, Production Superintendent, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
16. February 2019 – March 2020, F-35 Command Functional Manager, 19th Air Force, Randolph AFB, Texas
17. March 2020 – July 2021, Combat Air Forces Superintendent, 19th Air Force, Randolph AFB, Texas
18. July 2021 – July 2022, Superintendent, Aircraft Maintenance Branch, 19th Air Force, Randolph AFB, Texas
19. July 2022 – July 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 35th Fighter Generation Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
20. August 2023 – November 2024, Superintendent, Maintenance Policy and Procedures, Headquarters Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
21. November 2024 – June 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, F-35 Weapon System Team, HQ ACC, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
22. June 2025 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 52nd Fighter Wing Ceremonial Guardsman of the year
2009 412th Test Wing Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011 Distinguished Graduate U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Technical Training Course
2021 19th Air Force Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award
2025 Order of the Praetorian, United States Air Force Honor Guard
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class October 1, 2003
Senior Airman February 12, 2005
Staff Sergeant August 1, 2007
Technical Sergeant December 1, 2013
Master Sergeant May 1, 2017
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2020
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2022
(Current as of June 2025)