Chief Master Sergeant SHANE A. LAGRONE

Chief Master Sgt. Shane A. LaGrone is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky. He provides leadership and management of resources for all enlisted personnel. The chief also advises the wing commander on issues affecting the morale and well-being of personnel and their families, as well as matters relating to manpower, equipment and training during peacetime in preparation for the wing's wartime mission. He is accountable for working with a wide variety of federal and state authorities in all aspects of operations, personnel, equipment and funding matters.

Chief LaGrone enlisted in the Air Force in 1992, graduated from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in 1993, and was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. He deployed to Korea in support of Operation Pacific Bear and to Thailand in support of Operation Cope Tiger. In 2002 he was stationed at Elgin Air Force Base, Florida where he was NCO in charge of EOD Test Directives and Exploitations. While there, he created local EOD procedures for all munitions tested on the Eglin AFB ranges. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned a Bronze Star on each deployment. In 2008 he accepted a position with the Kentucky Air National Guard. Prior to his current position, Chief LaGrone was the EOD Flight Chief for the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.

EDUCATION
1993 Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Naval Ordnance Station Indian Head, Md.
1993 OSHA 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Operators Course
1996 Airman Leadership School, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
2000 EOD Advanced Access and Disablement, Naval Ordnance Station Indian Head, Md.
2002 EOD Craftsman Course, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2003 EOD Advanced Access and Disablement, Indian Head, Md.
2004 Post Blast Investigations Course, Fort Myers, Fla.
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2006 IED and WMD Disablement Logic Course, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2006 Combat Life Saver Course, Ft Sill, Okla.
2010 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Course, Air University
2012 Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Criminal Justice, Ashford University, Clinton, Iowa
2013 EOD Flight Commanders’ Course, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2014 WMGT 570 CE Superintendent Course, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio

ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1992 – June 1992, U.S.A.F. Basic Training and EOD Preliminary School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. June 1992 – September 1992, Student, EOD School, Eglin AFB, Fla.
3. October 1992 – February 1993, Student, EOD School, Indian Head, Md.
4. February 1993 – May 1998, EOD Journeyman, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
5. May 1998 – May 2002, NCO in charge, EOD Equipment, 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
6. May 2002 – April 2008, NCO in charge, Test Directives and Exploitations, 96th Civil Engineer Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
7. April 2008 –July 2017, EOD Flight Chief, 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
8. August 2017 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with one silver and one oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1996 Airman Leadership School Distinguished Graduate Award
2004 2005, 2007 AFMC Best Large Civil Engineer Unit
2005 Stryzak Award Winner Air Force Material Command for Best EOD Flight
2006 332nd Air Expeditionary Wwing Sharp Saber Team of the Month
2005, 2007 96th Air Wing NCO of the Year
2013 Kentucky Air National Guard Senior NCO of the Year
2015, 2016 Air National Guard Best EOD Flight

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators
Air Force Sergeants Association

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic March 10, 1992
Airman 1st Class April 23, 1992
Senior Airman September 28, 1994
Staff Sergeant September 01, 2000
Technical Sergeant July 01, 2004
Master Sergeant November 26, 2008
Senior Master Sergeant February 15, 2013
Chief Master Sergeant October 17, 2015

(Current as of July 2018)