CMSgt Justin C. Betterton is the Command Chief, 190th Air Refueling Wing (ARW), Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. The 190th ARW operates and maintains a fleet of 12 KC-135R aircraft that provide global mobility airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide conflicts, contingency and humanitarian operations while maintaining a nuclear deterrence tasking. The wing also supports the State of Kansas and the United States of America during Natural disasters and provides domestic operations emergency response. CMSgt Betterton is responsible for advising commanders and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, health, morale, welfare, mission effectiveness, and proper utilization of the command’s enlisted Airmen.

Chief Betterton entered military service with the Active-Duty Marine Corps in December 1996, serving as an Infantry Squad Leader. He initially enlisted in the Air National Guard as a B-1B Crew Chief with the 184th Bomb Wing. Chief Betterton was then selected to retrain as a Boom Operator when the wing transitioned to the KC-135R aircraft. While serving as a Boom Operator, he flew operations in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2007, when the wing again transitioned to a new mission, Chief Betterton was selected to serve as a Production Recruiter. In 2008, Chief Betterton began serving as a Geo-Spatial Analyst with the 161st Intelligence Wing. Soon after, he was selected to standup the initial Standards and Evaluations shop and serve as the Superintendent. During this time, Chief Betterton and his team helped validate and standardize training within the Distributed Ground Station (DGS) intelligence weapons system for the total force. Chief Betterton went on to serve as a Flight Chief within the 161st Intelligence squadron until 2015 when he was selected to serve as the Superintendent of the 184th Intelligence Wing Command Post. In 2018, CMSgt Betterton was selected as the National Guard Bureau (NGB) J33 Current Operations and Joint Operation Center’s Senior Enlisted Leader, overseeing a team of Army and Air National Guard personnel who supported Domestic Operations for the 54 states and territories. In 2021, CMSgt Betterton served as the NGB J2 Joint Intelligence Directorate Senior Enlisted Leaders where he led initiatives providing domestic intelligence support for hurricane and wildfire relief.

Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Betterton served as the Chief Enlisted Manager for the nuclear command and control node in support of national and U.S. Strategic Command level objectives at the 190th ARW, Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas.

EDUCATION

2003 Airman Leadership School, McConnell Air Force Base (AFB), Kan.
2006 Associate of Arts, Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2011 Associate of Arts, Intelligence Studies and Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2016 National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Associate of Arts, Emergency Management, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Chief Leadership Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas

ASSIGNMENTS

1. December 1996 – March 1997, Recruit, Recruit Training, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif.
2. March 1997 – June 1998, Security Force Marine, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Wash.
3. June 1998 – December 2000, Infantry Squad Leader, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
4. February 2001 – May 2002, B-1B Crew Chief, 184th Bomb Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. May 2002 – June 2006, Instructor Inflight Refueling Specialist, 127th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
6. June 2006 – October 2007, Production Recruiter, 184th Intelligence Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
7. October 2007 – November 2010, Superintendent, Standards and Evaluations, 184th Intelligence Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
8. November 2010 – June 2015, Flight Chief, 161st Intelligence Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
9. June 2015 – June 2018, Superintendent, Command Post, 184th Intelligence Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
10. June 2018 – October 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, Joint Operations Division (J33), NGB, Arlington, Va.
11. October 2021 – October 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, Joint Intelligence Directorate (J2), NGB, Arlington, Va.
12. October 2022 – November 2023, Chief Enlisted Manager, Command and Control, 190th ARW Forbes Field, Topeka, Kan.
13. November 2023 – Present, Command Chief, 190th ARW, Forbes Field, Topeka, Kan.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Marine of the Year, 1st Battalion 2nd Marines
1998 Meritorious Promotion (Corporal), 1st Battalion 2nd Marines
2000 Certificate of Commendation, 1st Battalion 2nd Marines
2001 Top Graduate, Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Course
2003 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Geospatial Analyst Course
2014 40 Under 40 Civic Honoree, Wichita, Kan.
2015 Top Graduate, Command and Control Operations Course

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Kansas
Air Force Sergeants Association

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION

Chief Master Sergeant Sept. 5, 2018

(Current as of July 2024)