JoAnne S. Bass

JoAnne S. Bass (; born ) is a retired Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force who served as the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 14 August 2020 to 8 March 2024. She was the first woman to serve as the senior enlisted leader of a United States military service and the first person of Asian American descent to serve as the Air Force's top enlisted leader. After retiring from the Air Force, she continued work in leadership, education, national security, and workforce development through roles including strategic advisor for Columbia Southern University, ambassador for Hiring Our Heroes, and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Early life Bass was born in Puyallup, Washington, and grew up in a military family. Her mother is Korean, and her father served as a warrant officer in the United States Army.

Bass began her Air Force career in aviation resource management at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, and later served with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Fort Bragg. Her career reflected a combination of operational experience, special operations credibility, training and education, and enterprise-level leadership, developed across squadron, group, wing, and major command assignments. She spoke frequently about the responsibility of leaders to be transparent, to take accountability, and to prepare service members not only for current demands but for the challenges of the decades ahead. Her use of these platforms reflected a broader shift among senior military leaders toward direct online engagement with service members, even as the Air Force and other institutions continued to navigate questions of moderation, professionalism, and public discourse on official accounts. Bass also linked online behavior to broader questions of professionalism, readiness, and culture. In October 2020, after online harassment directed at Staff Sgt. Heather Fejerang and Capt. Monica Clements, Bass wrote that "Respect is non-negotiable" and argued that respect among airmen extends to their conduct on social media.

In January 2021, Bass shared a post on her official Facebook page highlighting an airman's efforts to help other single parents. The post drew criticism over how it characterized the airman's ex-husband. Bass later removed the post and apologized, writing that it had been her "blind spot" because she had not considered how the commentary could be viewed "from a father or a husband's point of view". Task & Purpose reported that Bass personally called both airmen involved to apologize and said she would continue using social media to connect with airmen and highlight their work.

In a separate dispute arising from her official Facebook page, retired Air Force Maj. Richard Rynearson was blocked in November 2020 after posting comments critical of Air Force policies. Rynearson later sued, alleging that the ban violated the First Amendment. In 2022, a court-approved settlement restored his access to the page and required the Air Force to revise its social media comment policy to state that posts would not be removed, and users would not be banned, based on viewpoint.

Retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass addresses the audience during the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on 8 March 2024.

Post-military career After retiring from the Air Force in March 2024, Bass continued her work in leadership, education, national security, and workforce development. She also became involved in veteran employment and transition efforts through Hiring Our Heroes, while expanding her advisory work across industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations.

Bass speaks during the 4 July 2024 program at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

In her post-military career, Bass has engaged with senior leaders across corporate, academic, government, and policy environments on issues including leadership at scale, organizational culture, workforce readiness, and national security. Her experience leading and advising large, complex organizations has positioned her as a voice on how institutions adapt, compete, and build resilient teams in rapidly changing environments. 2000 Associate degree, Airport Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force 2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany 2005 Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott 2006 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 12, by distance learning 2007 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by distance learning 2009 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 2013 Air Mobility Command Leadership Challenge Program, Ramstein Air Base, Germany 2013 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Seminar, Ramstein Air Base, Germany 2015 AFSO21 Executive Leadership Seminar, University of Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee 2015 USAF Enterprise Leadership Seminar, UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by distance learning 2017 Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. 2018 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colorado 2018 Coaching for Greater Effectiveness, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, North Carolina

Assignments June 1993 – June 1996, Operations System Management Journeyman, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal

SHRM 2024 Legend in Leadership Award: Recognized for exceptional impact on workforce leadership and for breaking barriers as the first woman to serve as the senior enlisted leader of a U.S. military service.

MIGHTY 25 — 2024: Named among We Are The Mightys “Mighty 25,” honoring influential leaders shaping the military and veteran community.

PenFed Foundation 2022 Military Hero Award: Honored at the nationally recognized Night of Heroes Gala for extraordinary service and impact in support of the military community.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Inaugural Warfighter Quality of Life Champion Award — 2022': Recognized for advancing the well-being and quality of life of service members and their families across the Department of Defense.