Chief Master Sergeant Sylvetris Hlongwane serves as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. She is the primary advisor to the commander in support of over 4,200 military, civilian, and contract personnel who provide a nuclear combat capability by operating, maintaining, securing, and supporting 15 missile alert facilities and 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles on constant alert status, ready to launch at the direction of the President of the United States.
Chief Hlongwane is a native of South Carolina where she enlisted in the United States Air Force in July 1999, graduating from Aircraft Armament Apprentice School. Additionally, she’s served as a Maintenance Operations Board Controller, and led our junior enlisted force as a First Term Airmen Center (FTAC) Flight Instructor. Chief Hlongwane’s experience is amplified through service at the squadron, group, Wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels, with vast joint combat experience in eight deployed locations which provided direct support to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
2000 Aircraft Armament Apprentice Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2004 Airman Leadership School, Pope AFB, N.C.
2005 Aircraft Armament Craftsman Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Paralegal Apprentice Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Top Graduate/Commandant Award Recipient)
2008 Legal and Administrative Investigations Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Paralegal Craftsman Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Distinguished Graduate / Commandant Award Recipient)
2012 Associate of Applied Science - Aircraft Armament, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Studies, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SEJPME), National Defense University, Norfolk, Va. (Correspondence)
2015 Senior NCO Academy (SNCOA), Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Bachelor of Science, Management / Accounting, cum laude, Park University, Parkville, Mo. 2016 Law Office Manager Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Emergency Management Professional Development Certificate, Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, Md. (Correspondence)
2018 SNCOA Academy, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2018 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 SEJPME II (Correspondence)
2020 Strategic Deterrence Basic Course, Air University (Correspondence)
2020 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Chief Leadership Academy, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2021 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2022 Group Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2000 – March 2004, Aircraft Armament Weapons, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C. (December 2000 – March 2001, Aircraft Armament Loader, Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait; February 2002 – May 2002, Aircraft Armament Loader, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait;
July 2003 – December 2003, Weapons Load Crew Chief, Tallil AB, Iraq)
2. March 2004 – November 2005, Aircraft Armament Weapons Load Crew Chief, 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (September 2004 – December 2004, Gwang Ju AB, Korea)
3. December 2005 – February 2006, FTAC Instructor, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
4. February 2006 – April 2007, Maintenance Operations Center Board Controller, 3rd Maintenance Operations Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (June 2006 – November 2006, Heavy Aircraft Board Controller, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
5. April 2007 – November 2010, Paralegal (NCOIC, Discharges; NCOIC, Military Justice; NCOIC, General Law) 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla. (April 2009 – December 2009, NCOIC, Throughput Team, Law and Order Task Force, FOB Shield, Iraq)
6. November 2010 – December 2011, Paralegal (NCOIC, General Law; NCOIC, Military Justice), 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Korea
7. January 2012 – August 2015, Law Office Superintendent (NCOIC, Legal Training and Operations; NCOIC, Military Justice; NCOIC, General Law) 88th Air Base Wing, Wright - Patterson AFB, Ohio (January 2014 – May 2014, NCOIC, Legal Office, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic;
May 2014 – July 2014, NCOIC, Legal Office, Muwaffaq Salti AB, Jordan)
8. August 2015 – May 2016, Center Paralegal Manager, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright - Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. June 2016 – September 2017, Law Office Superintendent, Incirlik AB, Turkey
10. September 2017 – July 2020, 11AF Paralegal Manager and 11AF Staff Superintendent, 11 AF, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
11. August 2020 – December 2022, Paralegal MAJCOM Functional Manager, HQ AFGSC, Barksdale AFB, La.
12. December 2022 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Pope AFB Honor Guard Team Enhancement Ceremonial Guardsman of the Year
2009 Air Education and Training Command Outstanding NCO Paralegal of the Year
2012 88th Air Base Wing Staff Agency NCO of the Year
2014 Team Wright-Patterson NCO of the Year and Air Force Material Command Outstanding NCO Paralegal of the Year
2015 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Operating Location SNCO of the Year
2016 United States Air Forces Europe Outstanding SNCO Paralegal of the Year
2017 39th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies SNCO Lance P. Sijan
2018 Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) SNCO Lance P. Sijan and PACAF Outstanding SNCO Paralegal of the Year
2019 Air Force 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year