JoAnne S. Bass served as the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from August 2020 to March 2024, the senior enlisted leader representing more than 600,000 Total Force Airmen. She was the first woman to serve as the highest senior enlisted leader of any U.S. military service. Over 31 years in uniform, she held leadership roles from the squadron to the major command level, with joint and special operations experience that included deployments in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. She brings expertise in organizational culture, workforce development, and leading large organizations through change. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is the founder of The Bass Group, LLC.