CMSgt Thomas J. Gunnell serves as Command Chief, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, New Mexico. He serves as the principal advisor to the commander on all matters regarding the morale, welfare, professional development, and combat readiness of over 6,700 Air Commandos and their families. His wing provides special airpower and agile combat support capabilities to operational commanders conducting special operations missions around the world, including direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, personnel recovery, psychological operations, and information operations.
CMSgt Gunnell grew up in Columbus, Ohio and enlisted in the Air Force in March 2004. He is a Tactical Air Control Party Superintendent with more than 300 combat missions as a Special Operations JTAC Instructor and Evaluator. His assignments include bases in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico, Florida, and Washington D.C. Chief Gunnell has 12 deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom Sentinel, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
2008 Airman Leadership School, Pope AFB, N.C.
2009 Associate of Applied Science, Information Systems Technology, Community College of
the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Bachelor of Science, Sports and Fitness Management, Troy University, Troy Ala.
2014 Joint Fundamentals Course, Joint Special Operations University, by correspondence
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2015 Noncommissioned Officers Academy Course 15, by correspondence
2015 Master of Arts, Business Management and Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2016 Enterprise Management Course, Joint Special Operations University, by correspondence
2016 Professional Managers Certificate, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2018 United States Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advanced School, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
2018 Air Commando Leadership Development Course, Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2021 Graduate Certificate in Legislative Studies, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
2022 Chief Leadership Course, Air University, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 Latin and South America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Seminar, Washington D.C.
2023 Summit Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2023 Joint Special Operations Forces Pre-Command Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kegan-Flagler Business School, UNC Chapel Hill, N.C.
2024 Combined/Joint Forces Special Operations Component Commanders Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla
2024 Continuous Improvement & Innovation Executive Course, Institute for Defense & Business, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2025 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Seminar, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2004 – January 2005, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Candidate, 342nd Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. January 2005 – November 2008, TACP Apprentice, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
3. November 2008 – November 2013, Special Operations TACP, 17th Special Tactics Squadron, Fort Benning, Ga.
4. November 2013 – March 2015, NCOIC, Fires, 26th Special Tactics Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
5. March 2015 – June 2017, Flight Chief, Precision Strike, 26th Special Tactics Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
6. June 2017 – July 2018, Superintendent, Support, 26th Special Tactics Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. July 2018 – August 2020, MAJCOM Air to Ground Integration Manager, Air Force Special Operations Command HQ, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. August 2020 – December 2020, Legislative Fellow, Department of State, Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
9. January 2021 – December 2021, Defense Legislative Fellow, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of Congressman Chris Stewart, Washington, D.C.
10. January 2022 – July 2023, Special Assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Va.
11. July 2023 – July 2025, Command Chief, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla.
12. July 2025 – Present, Command Chief, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with “V” Device & two oak leaf clusters Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with “V” Device & three oak leaf clusters Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Army Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal Presidential Unit Citation
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 Airman Leadership School Leadership Award
2010 Air Commando Association Battlefield Airman of the Year
2010 United States Air Force SSgt Jacob Frazier TACP/JTAC of the Year
2014 26th Special Tactics Squadron Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year
2015 720th Special Tactics Group Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2015 26th Special Tactics Squadron NCO of the Year
2016 26th Special Tactics Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) of the Year
2016 Joint Special Operations University Enterprise Management Course Honor Graduate
2017 720th Special Tactics Group Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2017 Air Force Special Operations Command SNCO of the Year
2017 United States Air Force TACP C2 Operator of the Year
2018 United States Marine Corps SNCO Advanced Course Distinguished Graduate
2019 Pacific Air Forces Command Lessons Learned Team of the Year
(Current as of July 2025)