The primary enlisted senior advisor of Strategic Air Command and sixth chief grasp sergeant of the Air Pressure, James M. McCoy, handed away Wednesday, a press launch from the Air Pressure introduced.
He was simply three weeks shy of his 92nd birthday.
As the highest enlisted airman from 1979 to 1981, McCoy sought to enhance the enlisted retention price, created the Stripes for Distinctive Performers program and expanded skilled navy training choices.
His legacy additionally contains the introduction of maternity uniforms at a time when pregnant airmen needed to put on civilian garments after they reached a sure level of their being pregnant.
“Once we discuss standing on the shoulders of giants, we’re speaking about Airmen like CMSAF McCoy,” Chief Grasp Sgt. of the Air Pressure JoAnne S. Bass mentioned within the press launch.
Initially from Iowa, McCoy enlisted within the Air Pressure in 1951 as a radar operator with Aerospace Protection Command in Alaska. Following the Korean Battle, nevertheless, McCoy determined to pursue a profession in coaching the subsequent technology of airmen, serving as a drill teacher at Lackland Air Pressure Base, Texas, from 1956 to 1957. He adopted this submit with time spent in control of coaching non-commissioned officers at Clark AFB within the Philippines and working a command submit throughout the 1958 Taiwan Strait Disaster.
McCoy additionally frolicked early in his profession serving as assistant to the commandant of cadets for the College of Notre Dame’s Air Pressure ROTC program.
In 1960, McCoy was made commandant of Strategic Air Command’s NCP prep college at Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana. Two years later, he served as an teacher on the 2nd Air Pressure NCO Academy at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. He was named the academy’s sergeant main in 1966, additionally incomes his bachelor’s in enterprise administration that very same 12 months.
Persevering with to dedicate his service to coaching airmen, McCoy was in control of NCO operations on the forty first Aerospace Rescue and Restoration Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. He oversaw coaching applications for rescue aircrews, and finally turned the chief of navy coaching and deputy chief of employees for personnel for Pacific Air Forces in 1973.
In 1976, McCoy returned to SAC as its senior enlisted adviser. He was named chief grasp sergeant of the Air Pressure in 1979, working alongside Chief of Workers Gen. Lew Allen Jr. and Air Pressure Secretary Hans M. Mark. McCoy retired only a few years later, in 1981, after 30 years of devoted service.
“His ardour for caring for our Airmen was solely exceeded by his humility. He was an icon of our nice Air Pressure — and a hero to us all,” mentioned the present chief grasp sergeant of the Air Pressure, JoAnne Bass.
In retirement, McCoy served because the Air Pressure Affiliation’s Nationwide President from 1992 till 1994. He additionally served two phrases as chairman of the board at AFA, making him the primary enlisted airman to carry each positions.
“Chief McCoy left a legacy that highlights the instrumental position senior enlisted leaders have in our mission, each as executors and advisors,” mentioned Air Pressure Chief of Workers Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.
“Enhancing training, equality, and high quality of life had been hallmarks of his time in service that helped form the pressure we now have at this time, and his dedication to Airmen and households continued in his post-retirement work with the Air Pressure Affiliation and different civic organizations,” Brown added. “I’m grateful for his contributions to our service and am saddened to be taught of his passing.”
Amongst McCoy’s quite a few awards and recognitions had been the Legion of Advantage, the Meritorious Service Award and a 2016 induction into the Strategic Air Command’s Corridor of Fame.
Rachel is a Marine Corps veteran, Penn State alumna and Grasp’s candidate at New York College for Enterprise and Financial Reporting.
