August 2004

Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Patrick A. Melton has retired from the U.S. Air Force after 30 years of faithful military service.

Prior to retiring, Melton served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.  He was responsible for advising the commander on problems and concerns affecting the health, morale, welfare, assignment and effective use of approximately 3,200 ASC enlisted personnel at over 13 different geographic locations.

Chief Master Sergeant Melton enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1975.  During his outstanding military career, he held numerous positions at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. Melton served in logistics, aircraft control/warning, reconnaissance, weather, command/control, air refueling, electronic systems, acquisition and development, headquarters command sections and helicopter technical training units. He has served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for headquarters of a joint task force during NATO`s Operation Allied Force in Albania, and as the Command Chief Master Sergeant during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

For his honorable military service, he has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal, 10 Air Force Good Conduct Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal with gold border, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and various other medals and ribbons for exceptional military service accomplishments.

The chief and his wife, Sandra Sue, are residents of Washington, Ind. The couple has one son, Tim.

Chief Melton, born in Evansville, Indiana, graduated in 1974 from Bosse High School, Evansville, and received a bachelor’s of science degree in education in 1981 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.