View source for Gerald R. Murray

{{short description|14th Chief Master Sergeant of the US Air Force.}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Gerald R. Murray
|image= CMSAFmurray.jpg
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= Murray {{circa|2002}}
|nickname= 
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1956|1|18}}
|birth_place= [[Boiling Springs, North Carolina]], US
|death_date= 
|death_place= 
|placeofburial= 
|allegiance= <!-- United States; too obvious to list -->
|branch= [[United States Air Force]]
|serviceyears= 1977–2006
|rank= [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]]
|servicenumber= 
|unit= 
|commands= 
|battles= [[Gulf War]]<br/>[[Operation Southern Watch]]
|awards= [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]]<br/>[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]<br/>[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (4)<br/>[[Air Force Commendation Medal]] (2)<br/>[[Air Force Achievement Medal]]
|relations= 
|laterwork= 
}}
'''Gerald R. Murray''' (born January 18, 1956) is a retired airman of the [[United States Air Force]] who served as the 14th [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]] from 2002 to 2006.

==Military career==
Murray grew up in [[Boiling Springs, North Carolina]],<ref name=usaf-bio>{{cite web|title=CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE GERALD R. MURRAY|url=http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105050/chief-master-sergeant-of-the-air-force-gerald-r-murray/|website=U.S. Air Force Biographies|publisher=[[United States Air Force]]|accessdate=26 September 2017}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> and entered the [[United States Air Force]] in October 1977.<ref name=usaf-bio/> His background includes various duties in [[aircraft maintenance]] and as a [[Command Chief Master Sergeant]] at [[United States Air Force#Wings|wing]], [[US Air Force#Numbered Air Forces|numbered air force]] and [[US Air Force#Major commands|major command]] levels. His assignments include bases in [[Florida]], [[South Carolina]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name=usaf-bio/> Murray also served overseas in Turkey and Japan, and deployed in support of operations [[Operation Desert Storm|Desert Storm]] and [[Operation Southern Watch|Southern Watch]]. Before becoming [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]], he served as [[Command Chief Master Sergeant]], [[Pacific Air Forces]], [[Hickam Air Force Base]], [[Hawaii]].<ref name=usaf-bio/>

Murray was appointed to the position of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force on July 1, 2002. In this position, he represented the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. He serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.<ref name=usaf-bio/>

Murray retired on October 1, 2006, after 29 years of service.

==Post military career==
Murray serves as Chairman of the Board of the [[Air & Space Forces Association]].

==Education==
*1983 Tactical Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, [[Shaw Air Force Base|Shaw AFB]], SC.
*1984 U.S. Air Forces in Europe Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, West Germany
*1986 [[Associate in Applied Science]] degree in aircraft systems maintenance technology, [[Community College of the Air Force]]
*1987 [[Associate of Arts]] degree in [[liberal arts]], [[Saint Leo University|Saint Leo College]], Saint Leo, Fl.
*1993 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, [[Gunter Air Force Base|Gunter AFB]], Al.

==Assignments==
#October 1977 – December 1977, trainee, Basic Military Training, [[Lackland Air Force Base|Lackland AFB]], [[Texas]]
#December 1977 – February 1978, student, Aircraft Maintenance Technology Course, [[Sheppard Air Force Base|Sheppard AFB]], [[Texas]]
#February 1978 – October 1981, aircraft crew chief, 13th Fighter Squadron, 56th Tactical Fighter Wing, [[MacDill Air Force Base|MacDill AFB]], [[Florida|Fla.]]
#October 1981 – April 1984, aircraft maintenance instructor, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, [[Shaw Air Force Base|Shaw AFB]], [[South Carolina|S.C.]]
#April 1984 – May 1986, senior [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] crew chief, 39th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron, [[Incirlik Air Base]], [[Turkey]]
#May 1986 – July 1992, aircraft production superintendent, 353rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 354th Fighter Wing, [[Myrtle Beach Air Force Base|Myrtle Beach AFB]], S.C. (August 1990 March 1991, production superintendent, 354th Wing [Provisional], [[King Fahd International Airport]] and [[King Khalid Military City]], [[Saudi Arabia]])
#July 1992 – December 1994, Superintendent, Maintenance Flight, 354th Fighter Squadron, [[McChord Air Force Base|McChord AFB]], [[Washington (state)|Wash.]]
#December 1994 – April 1996, Maintenance Superintendent, 70th Fighter Squadron, 347th Wing, [[Moody Air Force Base|Moody AFB]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Ga.]] (December 1995 March 1996, Maintenance Superintendent, 70th Fighter Squadron, [[Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base|Al Jaber AB]], [[Kuwait]])
#April 1996 – August 1999, [[Command Chief Master Sergeant]], 347th Wing, Moody AFB, Ga. (November 1997 March 1998, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 347th Wing (Provisional) [[Sheik Isa Air Base|Sheikh Isa AB]], [[Bahrain]])
#September 1999 – August 2001, Command Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Forces Japan and [[Fifth Air Force|5th Air Force]], [[Yokota Air Base|Yokota AB]], [[Japan]]
#August 2001 – June 2002, Command Chief Master Sergeant, [[Pacific]] Air Forces, [[Hickam Air Force Base|Hickam AFB]], [[Hawaii]]
#July 2002 – June 2006, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, [[The Pentagon]], [[Washington, D.C.]]

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|-
|[[File:USAF - Master Maintenance Badge.png|100px]]
|Master [[Badges of the United States Air Force#Occupational Badges|Maintenance Badge]]
|-
|}
{|
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with three bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Commendation Medal#Air Force|Air Force Commendation Medal]] with bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Achievement ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Achievement Medal|Air Force Achievement Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|other_device=v|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Outstanding Unit Award|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]] with [[Valor device]] and silver oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|name=Air Force Good Conduct ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)#Air Force Good Conduct Medal|Air Force Good Conduct Medal]] with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Recognition Ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Recognition Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with bronze [[service star]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=AFEMRib|width=60}}
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] with bronze service star
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|name=Southwest Asia Service ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] with two bronze service stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon#Air Force|Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon]] with bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon#Air Force|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon]] with bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] with silver and bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon|NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon]] with two bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Marksmanship Ribbon|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Air Force Training Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Training Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)]]
|-
|}

==Other Achievements==
*1983 Honor graduate and Communicative Skills Award, Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School
*1985 Distinguished graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
*1991 Air Force General Lew Allen Trophy, for outstanding performance in aircraft sortie generation.
*1993 Distinguished graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy

==References==
{{Commonscat|Gerald R. Murray}}
{{Reflist}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{Succession box| title=[[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]] | before=[[Frederick J. Finch]] | after=[[Rodney J. McKinley]]|years=2002–2006}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Gerald R.}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chief Master Sergeants of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:Community College of the Air Force alumni]]
[[Category:Saint Leo University alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:People from Boiling Springs, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]