CMSgt Stephen Hale is the Superintendent at 1st Weather Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In this capacity, Chief Hale advises the Group Commander on operational, training, and personnel issues affecting over 950 active duty and civil service personnel assigned to six Operational Weather Squadrons across the globe. The Group is responsible for providing decision-quality forecasts, weather threat assessments and alerts, aviation hazard products, and aircrew mission briefings to Air Force, Army, Guard, and Reserve forces located at 542 DoD installations across all unified commands supporting mission planning and execution, flight safety, and resource protection for more than 2 million military personnel and their families and almost a trillion dollars in DoD assets. Additionally, Chief Hale manages the enlisted professional development and awards recognition programs.
Chief Hale enlisted in the Air Force in December 1994. He graduated from the Observer Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in May of 1995. He has held various leadership roles in the weather career field and has supported diverse mission areas while serving in Air Force and Army commands. Chief Hale has participated in several operations and exercises as well as deployments in direct support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, SPARTAN SHIELD, INHERHENT RESOLVE, and DELIBERATE RESOLVE. Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Hale served as the Squadron Superintendent, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, IL.
EDUCATION
2000 Airmen Leadership School, Charleston AFB, SC
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Correspondence
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence
2013 Associate of Applied Science in Meteorology, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II, Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1994 - February 1995, Trainee, 322nd BMTS, Lackland AFB, TX
2. February 1995 - May 1995, Student, 334th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
3. May 1995 - December 1997, Weather Observer, 80th OSS, Sheppard AFB, TX
4. December 1997 - December 1998, Weather Observer, 8th OSS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
5. December 1998 - August 1999, Student, 334th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
6. August 1999 - August 2003, Weather Forecaster, 437th OSS, Charleston AFB, SC (September 2002 - December 2002, NCOIC, Weather Team, 64th AEG, Camp Snoopy, Qatar)
7. August 2003 - February 2007, NCOIC, Mission Services, 37th OSS, Lackland AFB, TX (May 2004 - August 2004, Forecaster, 496th ABS, Moron AB, Spain)
8. February 2007 - April 2008, NCOIC, AOC Weather Flight, 607th COS, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
9. April 2008 - March 2014, Detachment Chief, Det 2, 3rd WS, Ft. Riley, KS (November 2008 - May 2009, Battlefield Weather Forecaster, 34th CAB, Balad AB, Iraq) (August 2010 - March 2011, Air Advisor, 22nd EWXS, Camp Victory, Iraq) (August 2012 - February 2013, NCOIC and Additional Duty First Sergeant, 82nd EASOS, Camp Buehring, Kuwait)
10. March 2014 - August 2017, Flight Chief, 21st OWS, Kapaun AS, Germany
11. August 2017 - November 2019, Operations Superintendent, 15th OWS, Scott AFB, IL (October 2018 - March 2019, Superintendent, 22nd EWXS, Camp Buehring, Kuwait)
12. November 2019 - January 2021, Squadron Superintendent, 15th OWS, Scott AFB, IL
13. January 2021 - Present, Superintendent, 1st Weather Group, Offutt AFB, NE
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Unit Award with valor device, one silver and one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 37th Operation Support Squadron Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2009 Commandant Award, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2015 21st Operational Weather Squadron Weather Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2015 435th Air and Ground Operations Wing’s VCSAF Innovation Team Nominee
2016 1st Weather Group Lance P. Sijan Nominee
2016 557th Weather Wing Weather Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2017 1st Weather Group Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2018 15th Operational Weather Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2018 12th Air Force General Kenney Award
2019 1st Weather Group Lance P. Sijan Nominee