CMSgt Blair A. Baerny is the Wing 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.
CMSgt Baerny was born in Enumclaw, Washington, and graduated from Puyallup high school, Puyallup, Washington. He enlisted in the air force in August of 2001 under the delayed enlistment program and began his active-duty career on October 17, 2001. After completing Basic Training Sergeant Baerny went to Explosive Ordinance Disposal School before starting his career as a Pararescueman. Sergeant Baerny completed Pararescue training in Feb 2006 and was assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV. In 2010 Sergeant Baerny was assigned to the 342nd TRS DET 1 Kirtland AFB, NM; there he became the NCOIC of the tactics phase of training, the air operations phase and eventually the Director of Training. In April of 2015 he became a member of the Kentucky Air National Guard, 123rd STS Louisville, KY.
CMSgt Baerny has six combat deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Enduring Freedom, and others. Prior to this assignment he was with the Kentucky Air National Guard, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, as a Pararescueman.
2004 National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, Eastern New Mexico University, Emergency Medical Services Academy, NM
2007 Airman Leadership School
2010 USAF Basic Instructor Course
2011 USAF Technical Writers Course
2011 Associate Applied Science Personnel Recovery, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Associate Applied Science Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force
2013 USAF Instructional Systems Development Course
2014 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2016 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2017 Navy Special Warfare Platoon Leaders Course
2022 AFSOC Senior Enlisted Leaders Orientation Course
2025 USAF Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course
ASSIGNMENTS
Dec 2001 - May 2002, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal Eglin AFB, Fla.
May 2002 - May 2003, Pararescue indoctrination course student
May 2003 - Feb 2006, Pararescue Student 342rd Training Squadron Detachment 1]
February 2006 - July 2010, 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev.
July 2010 - April 2015, 342 TRS DET 1 Kirtland AFB, N.M.
April 2015 - Oct 2018, Pararescue Team Leader, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
Oct 2018 - Dec 2020, Pararescue Flight Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky ANG, Louisville, Ky.
Dec 2020 - Nov 2022, Operations Superintendent, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky ANG, Louisville, Ky.
Nov 2022 – Sep 2023, Acting Senior Enlisted Leader, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky ANG, Louisville, Ky.
Sep 2023 - April 2025, Pararescue Senior Enlisted Leader, 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky ANG, Louisville, Ky.
April 2025 - present, Wing Command Chief, 123rd Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky ANG, Louisville, Ky.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal 
Combat Readiness Medal
Medal for Humane Action
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on terrorism Service Medal
Navy Expert Rifle Medal
Navy Pistol Shot Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 USAF Pararescueman of the year
2011 Kirtland Air Force Base Non-Commissioned Officer of the year
2022 Received Kentucky Colonel
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Master Enlisted Aircrew Badge
Master Military Freefall Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Master Combat Diver Badge
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member of Enlisted Association of the National Guard
Member of the Air and Space Forces Association
Lifetime member of the Pararescue Association