Chief Master Sgt. Kelly S. McKinley is the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard career field manager, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. He is the Air Force's principal advisor for all protocol, honors and drill matters that effect more than 55,000 ceremonies per year. As the career field manager, he provides oversight for more than 3,000 permanent and augmentee ceremonial guardsmen at 179 Air Force and Space Force bases, across all MAJCOMs, DRUs and FOAs. He engages with DOD agencies to formulate policy for human capital management, manning levels, personnel classification, utilization, education, training and technical support. Chief Master Sgt. McKinley supports Joint Task Force-National Capital Region through state funeral and special security events planning and execution.
Chief Master Sgt. McKinley enlisted in the Air Force in July 1998 under the Delayed Enlistment Program and served in multiple locations throughout the northern, central, and Indo-Pacific theaters. Throughout his 25-year career, he has served in a variety of logistics, honor guard and special duty positions.
Chief Master Sgt. McKinley has deployed extensively in support of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Denial, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve, as well as NATO’s Iceland Defense Force and Resolute Support missions. Prior to his current role, he was the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Standardization & Evaluations Superintendent.
EDUCATION
2002 Protocol, Honors, and Ceremonies Course, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
2004 Airman Leadership School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2005 Associate of Applied Science, Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2011 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Force Basic Instructor Course, Vandenberg AFB, Cal.
2014 Certificate, Professional Manager, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Certificate, Information Assurance (National Security Agency), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2015 Bachelor of Science, Technical Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2016 Graduate Certificate, Instructional Design, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie
2017 Associate of Arts, East Asian Language-Area Studies, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2017 Air Force Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Curtis E. LeMay Center, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Air Force Senior Leaders Course, McConnell AFB, Kan.
2018 Master of Science in Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie
2021 Master of Business Administration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
2022 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1998–February 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. February 1999–July 1999, Student, Aircraft Armament Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. July 1999–July 2002, Weapons Load Crew Member, 54th/12th Fighter Squadrons, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (July 1999–August 2002, Base Honor Guard/Drill Team Member/Flight Sergeant, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska)(October 1999–March 2000, Weapons Load Crew Member, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia)(February 2001–June 2001, Weapons Load Crew Member, Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland)
4. August 2002– February 2005, Weapons Load Crew Member, 57th Aircraft Generation/Maintenance Squadrons, Nellis AFB, Nev. (September 2002–October 2003, Base Honor Guard/Drill Team Lead Trainer, Nellis AFB, Nev.)
5. February 2005–July 2005, Weapons Load Crew Chief, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea (February 2005–April 2006, Base Honor Guard Lead Trainer, Kunsan AB, South Korea)
6. July 2005–April 2006, Squadron Lead Crew Chief, 8th Maintenance Group, Kunsan AB, South Korea
7. April 2006–April 2008, Weapons Load Crew Chief, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan (April 2006–April 2008, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Base Honor Guard, Misawa AB, Japan)(May 2007–October 2007, Weapons Load Crew Chief/Base Honor Guard Trainer, Balad AB, Iraq)
8. April 2008–May 2008, Squadron Lead Crew Chief, 51st Maintenance Group, Osan AB, South Korea (April 2008–May 2008, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Base Honor Guard, Osan AB, South Korea)
9. June 2009–September 2009, Student, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
10. September 2009–March 2010, Pallbearers Section Chief, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
11. March 2010–July 2010, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Ceremonial Flight, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2010–October 2011, Flight Chief, Formal Training, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
13. October 2011–May 2013, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Drill Team, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2013–September 2014, Flight Chief, Standardization & Evaluations, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
15. September 2014–January 2015, Weapons Expediter, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah (September 2014–January 2019, Superintendent, Base Honor Guard, Hill AFB, Utah)
16. January 2015–April 2015, Weapons Loading Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
17. April 2015–May 2016, Weapons Section Chief, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah (October 2015–May 2016, Weapons Section Chief/ Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Base Honor Guard, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
18. May 2016–April 2018, Armament Flight Chief, 388th Equipment Maintenance/Maintenance Squadrons, Hill AFB, Utah (October 2017–April 2018, Armament/Accessories/Base Honor Guard Superintendent, Al Dhafra AB, UAE)
19. April 2018–January 2019, Wing Weapons Manager, 388th Maintenance Group, Hill AFB, Utah
20. January 2019–March 2022, Operations Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
21. March 2022–February 2023, Standardization & Evaluations Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
22. February 2023–July 2024, Wing Weapons Manager, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena AB, Japan
23. July 2024–Present, Career Field Manager, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 Distinguished Graduate, Student Leadership School
2001 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Missile/Munitions Technician of the Year, 12th Fighter Squadron
2003 Weapons Load Crew of the Year, Strike Aircraft Maintenance Unit
2003 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
2005 Honor Guard Member of the Year, Kunsan Air Base
2006 Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year, Misawa AB
2007 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year, Misawa AB
2008 Ceremonial Guardsman of the Year, Osan AB
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2013 U.S. Air Force Honor Guard 47th Praetorian Recipient
2013 U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Guardsman of the Year
2013 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 11th Operations Group
2014 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 11th Operations Group
2015 Base Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year, Air Force Materiel Command
2016 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Missile/Munitions Manager of the Year, Hill Air Force Base
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 388th Maintenance Group
2020 U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Guardsman of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Association, Lifetime Member
Airman Heritage Foundation, Lifetime Member
U.S. Air Force Sergeants Association, Lifetime Member
U.S. Air and Space Forces Association, Lifetime Member
Aircraft Armament Chiefs Association, Lifetime Member
Certified Drillmaster #12
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Dec. 29, 1998
Airman First Class June 22, 1999
Senior Airman June 12, 2001
Staff Sergeant July 1, 2005
Technical Sergeant June 1, 2010
Master Sergeant Feb. 1, 2015
Senior Master Sergeant Feb. 1, 2018
Chief Master Sergeant March 1, 2022
(Current as of August 2024)