Chief Master Sergeant Erik M. Wolford serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Michigan National Guard's Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Lansing, Michigan. He is the principal advisor to the Assistant Adjutant General for Initiatives on all matters concerning the readiness, development, and welfare of the joint forces.
He is a key leader helping drive major initiatives for the Michigan National Guard, including the development of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center, fostering joint and community partnerships, and advancing innovative solutions to modernize the force.
Chief Wolford entered the Air Force in August 2000. He served as an Aero Repair Crew Chief at Travis Air Force Base maintaining the C-5 and KC-10 aircraft and then transitioned to the Michigan Air National Guard in 2005. During his tenure as a traditional Guardsman, he honed his small business skills, acquiring a Michigan Builders License while contributing to his community through residential remodeling projects. As his unit entered conversion from the C-130 to the KC-135 in 2008, Chief Wolford began working fulltime with the Michigan Air National Guard, leading teams focused on maintaining readiness and being prepared for the 801X nuclear mission.
Chief Wolford deployed multiple times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL AND SPARTAN SHIELD. During his time as the lead Production Superintendent, he supervised maintenance operations focused on persistent mission generation. He stood up the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Detachment 1, Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan mobilizing personnel that successfully deployed tankers and cargo increments. During his next deployment, Chief Wolford steered the integration of Detachment 1 back into the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar and oversaw four different generation units responsible for C-130, E-8, RC-135, and KC-135 missions.
Chief Wolford has leveraged his experience by providing insight and developing realistic training opportunities for Airmen. Building partnerships throughout the State of Michigan, he has led site visits at commercial airports establishing tanker drop-in locations for units to demonstrate tactics enhancing Agile Combat Employment efforts for the Air Force. Chief Wolford advanced the tanker enterprise by contributing to the development of specialized fueling operations. Most recently he has been responsible for coordinating the dual conversion at Selfridge Air National Guard Base for the F-15EX and KC-46 bridging communication with Michigan Joint Force Headquarters, the National Guard Bureau, Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and various stakeholders to navigate a complex basing action. Prior to his current position, Chief Wolford served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 191st Maintenance Operations Flight, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan.
EDUCATION
2000 Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2004 Airman Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif.
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Associate in Applied Science Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2008 Associate in Applied Science of Aircraft Maintenance, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2011 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, Joint Knowledge Online, Suffolk, Va.
2011 MAF Maintenance Supervision and Production Course, Fort Dix, N.J.
2012 Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2013 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2014 USAF Senior NCO Academy, Advanced Leadership Experience (ALE), Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2015 Airframe and Power-Plant Certification #3809088, Federal Aviation Administration
2016 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
2016 International NCO Leadership Development Seminar (INLEAD), McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2016 Leadership Challenge Program I (LCP I), Fort Custer, Mich.
2017 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Knowledge Online, Suffolk, Va.
2020 Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Phase I, by correspondence
2023 Middle East and South Asia Seminar, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
2024 Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2025 Leading Data and Artificial Intelligence Enabled Organizations, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–September 2000, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2. September 2000–February 2001, Student, Technical Training School, 362nd Training Squadron, Shepard AFB, Texas
3. February 2001–February 2005, Aero Repair Crew Chief, 60th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. February 2005–November 2008, Inspection Section Crew Chief, 191st Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Mich.
5. March 2008–February 2009, Aero Repair Crew Chief, 191st Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. February 2009–October 2011, KC-135 Lead Crew Chief, 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
7. October 2011–March 2015, Flight Chief, 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
8. March 2015–March 2018, Fabrication Flight Chief, 191st Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
9. March 2018–September 2021, Production Supervisor, 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
10. October 2021–March 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 191st Maintenance Operations Flight, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
11. March 2025-Current, Chief, F-15EX and KC-46 Program Integration Office, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
12. March 2025–Current, Joint Staff Senior Enlisted Leader, Michigan Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Lansing, Mich.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force and Space Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Aug. 1, 2000
Airman First Class Sept. 15, 2000
Senior Airman July 15, 2002
Staff Sergeant Oct. 1, 2005
Technical Sergeant Dec. 1, 2008
Master Sergeant April 1, 2012
Senior Master Sergeant April 1, 2014
Chief Master Sergeant May 1, 2023
(Current as of December 2025)