Chief Master Sgt. Donald W. Henry III is the command chief master sergeant of the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois. He serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the wing commander, providing advocacy for enlisted personnel, ensuring mission readiness, mentoring senior NCOs, managing morale and upholding professional standards within the Greater Peoria Air National Guard Base.
Chief Henry began his military career in 2004 with the U.S. Air Force, serving four years on active duty. He transferred to the Air National Guard in 2008 and was selected for a full-time dual status federal technician position in 2010. He was converted to a Title 5 federal employee in 2017. Chief Henry has served in many capacities throughout his career, including financial services analyst, financial systems technician, wing inspection team member, quality assurance manager, senior enlisted leader, group senior enlisted leader, Air National Guard comptroller course instructor, and senior enlisted advisor to the Comptroller Advisory Board.
Chief Henry has deployed multiple times in support of several missions, to include Operations Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield. In 2010, he mobilized as a Financial Management specialist to the 65th Airlift Wing at Lajes Field, Azores, and in 2023 as the group senior enlisted leader for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing headquarters staff, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In his full-time capacity, he is the supervisory financial analyst for the 182nd Comptroller Flight as a Title 5 civilian employee. Prior to his current position, the chief master sergeant was the chief enlisted manager of the 182nd Comptroller Flight, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois.
EDUCATION
2004 U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training, 737th Training Group, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2004 Financial Management Apprentice Course, 335th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2009 Airman Leadership School, I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training Center, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2011 Air National Guard Quality Assurance Course, National Guard Bureau Financial Management, Andrews AFB, Md.
2013 Financial Management Craftsman Course, 335th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2014 Financial Management Silver Flag, 801st Red Horse Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2016 U.S. Air Force NCO Academy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 DoD Financial Management Level I Certification, Financial Management Online, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 U.S. Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Associate of Applied Science, Financial Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Financial Management Level II Certification, Financial Management Online, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SEJPME) II, Joint Knowledge Online, Suffolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 – December 2006, Financial Services Analyst, 100th Comptroller Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
2. December 2006 – August 2008, Financial Services Analyst, 375th Comptroller Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
3. August 2008 – October 2010, Financial Services Analyst, 182nd Comptroller Flight, Peoria, Ill. (November 2009 – April 2010, Financial Management Specialist, 65th Comptroller Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores)
4. October 2010 – March 2015, Financial Systems Technician, 182nd Comptroller Flight, Peoria, Ill.
5. March 2015 – August 2018, Quality Assurance Manager, 182nd Comptroller Flight, Peoria, Ill.
6. August 2018 – December 2025, Chief Enlisted Manager/Supervisory Financial Analyst, 182nd Comptroller Flight, Peoria, Ill. (May 2023 – November 2023, Group Senior Enlisted Leader, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
7. December 2025 – Present, Command Chief, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Illinois Long and Honorable Military Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with “8” device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2010 Air National Guard Financial Management Airman of the Year
2011 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 182nd Airlift Wing
2020 Commissioner, Racial Justice and Equity Commission, Peoria County, Illinois
2022 Precinct Committeeperson, Peoria County, Illinois
2023 Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Air National Guard Comptroller Advisory Board
2023 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, 182nd Airlift Wing
2023 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, Illinois Air National Guard
2023 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year, Enlisted Field Advisory Council (EFAC) Region 5
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Society of Military Comptrollers
National Guard Association of Illinois (lifetime member)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Aug. 3, 2004
Airman Feb. 3, 2005
Airman First Class Dec. 3, 2005
Senior Airman Aug. 3, 2007
Staff Sergeant Aug. 8, 2010
Technical Sergeant Nov. 2, 2013
Master Sergeant Sept. 10, 2017
Senior Master Sergeant Sept. 11, 2022
Chief Master Sergeant March 9, 2025
(Current as of February 2026)