Chief Master Sgt. Thomas M. Podgorski is the Command Chief for the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, home of the largest B-1B combat wing in the United States Air Force. He serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the wing commander and the leadership team on all matters concerning combat readiness, training, professional development, and effective utilization of the wing’s enlisted force. He supports the generation of B-1Bs and associated combat support for delivering precision strike capabilities to combatant commanders across the globe. He advocates for the health, morale, welfare, and quality of life for the installation's more than 8,500 military members, civilians, retirees, and their families, while guiding the enlisted force through Ellsworth’s historic transition as the first Main Operating Base for the B-21 Raider.
Chief Podgorski is a native of Warwick, Rhode Island, entering the Air Force in September 2000, and completed the Aircraft Armament Specialist course in March 2021. A weapons troop by trade, he gained extensive aircraft experience on the F-16, F-22, PA-200, B-2 and B-52 platforms. He’s held various positions at the squadron and group level and had the opportunity to work directly with the Italian Air Force for two years when he was stationed at Ghedi Air Base, Italy. He has deployed numerous times and has also provided direct support for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Rough Rider, Epic Fury, Theater Security Packages and Bomber Task Force missions.
Prior to his current position, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader, 2nd Maintenance Group, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
EDUCATION
2005 Airman Leadership School, Aviano Air Base (AB), Italy
2013 Senior Joint Enlisted Professional Military Education (Distance learning)
2013 Nuclear Managers Course, Ramstein AB, Germany
2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Ramstein AB, Germany
2014 Associate Degree, Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Senior Joint Enlisted Professional Military Education II, (Distance learning)
2017 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2021 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Academy, Air University (Virtual correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 2000 – November 2000, trainee, Basic Military Training, 322nd Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- November 2000 – April 2001, student, Aircraft Armament Systems, 363rd Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
- April 2001 – November 2004, Armament Maintenance Team Member, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah (May 2003 – September 2003, Armament Maintenance Team Member, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
- November 2004 – November 2009, F-16 Weapons Load Crew Member, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; F-16 Weapons Load Crew Chief, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (April 2005 – September 2005, Weapons Load Crew Member, 510th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Balad AB, Iraq) (January 2007 – May 2007, Weapons Load Crew Chief, 510th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Balad AB, Iraq)
- November 2009 – February 2012, F-22 Weapons Expediter, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M. (May 2010 – August 2010, Weapons Expediter, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Kadena AB, Japan) (August 2010 – September 2010, Weapons Expediter, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Anderson AFB, Guam)
- February 2012 – May 2013, Quality Assurance Inspector, 8th Maintenance Group, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- May 2013 – November 2015, Senior Load Monitor, 704th Munitions Support Squadron, Ghedi AB, Italy
- November 2015 – June 2017, B-2 Weapons Maintenance NCO in Charge, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
- June 2017 – July 2020, B-2 Weapons Standardization Superintendent, 509th Maintenance Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
- July 2020 – March 2023, Wing Weapons Manager, 2nd Maintenance Group, Barksdale AFB, La.
- March 2023 – May 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 2nd Maintenance Group, Barksdale AFB, La.
- June 2026 – Present, Command Chief, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award, 49th Maintenance Group
2014 Armament Manager of the Year, 704th Munitions Support Squadron
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Maintenance Professional of the Year, 52nd Munitions Maintenance Group
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 52nd Munitions Maintenance Group
2015 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award, 52nd Munitions Maintenance Group
2017 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award, Air Force Global Strike Command
2018 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 509th Bomb Wing
2018 Armament Manager of the Year, 509th Bomb Wing
2019 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Professional Team of the Year, 509th Bomb Wing
2019 General Larry D. Welch Award, United States Air Force
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic, September 27, 2000
Airman, March 27, 2001
Airman First Class, January 27, 2002
Senior Airmen, March 27, 2003
Staff Sergeant, December 1, 2005
Technical Sergeant, June 1, 2010
Master Sergeant, May 1, 2014
Senior Master Sergeant, January 1, 2018
Chief Master Sergeant, November 1, 2020
(Current as of June 2026)