AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC INSTRUCTOR
United States Air Force 10381 US 301 South TELEPHONE (919) 894-3146, ext.5534 Four Oaks, North Carolina 27524 FAX (919) 894-3229 CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT THOMAS C. PIGFORD, JR. (Ret.) Chief Master Sergeant Thomas C. Pigford Jr. retired from active duty on August 31, 2009. His last active duty assignment, he served as the Superintendent, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Inspector General, Recruiting Branch, Randolph AFB, TX. As the Superintendent, he was responsible for Operational Readiness Inspections (ORI) of all active duty Air Force recruiting units worldwide. He assumed his current position as an Air Force JROTC Aerospace Science Instructor, at South Johnston High School, Four Oaks, N.C. on February 2, 2010 to present. Chief Pigford was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina and graduated from John T. Hoggard High School in June 1979. He entered active-duty Air Force on August 16, 1979. Upon completion of Basic Military Training, he was assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where he received training as a Medical Administrative Specialist. In 1985, he retrained into Air Force Recruiting and has served in several recruiting assignments, including Enlisted Accessions Recruiter, Officer Accessions Recruiter, Military Liaison Supervisor, Enlisted Accessions Flight Chief, Officer Accessions Flight Chief, Squadron Operations Superintendent, and two tours as Squadron Superintendent, and Superintendent of AFRS Marketing Division, and Superintendent of AETC Inspector General, Recruiting Branch. He’s the father of three children Courtney, Britney and Trae. EDUCATION: 1979 Health Care Management School, Sheppard AFB, Texas 1982 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course, Kessler AFB, Mississippi 1983 Noncommissioned Leadership School, Kessler AFB, Mississippi 1985 Recruiting School, Lackland AFB, Texas 1990 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas 1998 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy by correspondence 1998 Associates in Health Care Management, Community College of the Air Force 2001 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 2009 Business Administration/Resource Management, Columbia Southern University, Alabama Present Master of Divinity, Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa Idaho ASSIGNMENTS:
|
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Good Conduct Medal with eight oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Superintendent of the Year, 367th Recruiting Group, 2003 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee, 369th Recruiting Group, 2002 Senior NCO of the Year, 337th Recruiting Squadron, 1999 Outstanding Performer Award, AETC Inspector General, 1999 Officer Accessions Flight Chief of the Year, Air Force Recruiting Service, 1998 Commander’s Award, 367th Recruiting Group, 1998 Significant Improvement Award, 367th Recruiting Group, 1998 Senior NCO of the Year, 337th Recruiting Squadron, 1998 Superintendent’s Award, 317th Recruiting Squadron, 1996 Enlisted Accessions Flight Chief of the Year, 360th Recruiting Group, 1995 Top Military Entrance Processing NCO of the Year, 337th Recruiting Squadron, 1993 Commander’s Key Player Award, 337th Recruiting Squadron, 1993 Top Nurse Program of the Year, 367th Recruiting Group, 1992 Outstanding Performer Award, AETC Inspector General, 1992 Recruiting Service Silver Badge Award Winner (seven consecutive years) Recruiting Service Gold Badge Award Winner, 337th Recruiting Squadron, 1986 Top Prior Service Program Recruiter of the Year, 1986 Top Non-Prior Service Program Recruiter of the Year, 1986 Recruiter of the Year, South Carolina Non commissioned Officer Association, 1986 Outstanding Performer Award, AETC Inspector General, 1986 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Recruiting School, 1985 Speech Award, Air Force Recruiting School, 1985 Distinguished Graduate, Non commissioned Officer Leadership School, 1983 Airman of the Quarter, Air Education Training Command, Kessler Air Force Base, 1982 EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION: Chief Master Sergeant 1 July 2004 Senior Master Sergeant 1 October 2000 Master Sergeant 1 November 1994 Technical Sergeant 1 March 1989 Staff Sergeant 1 July 1983 |