CMSGT JAMES A. GOETZ

Chief Master Sgt. James A. Goetz grew up in Indiana and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952. He received initial training on electronic fundamentals and upon graduation was selected for nuclear weapons electronics and mechanical training.

He came to Kansas as a member of the 36th Aviation Depot Squadron at Smoky Hill (later renamed Schilling) Air Force Base, Salina. He qualified in both nuclear and conventional weapons handling, including explosive ordnance disposal.

Goetz was discharged in 1957 and joined the Air Force Reserve while beginning what proved to be a 31-year career with the U.S. Postal Service. He came into the Kansas Air National Guard in 1965 with the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Hutchinson and ultimately became noncommissioned officer-in-charge (NCOIC) of the disaster preparedness section. He remained with the unit when it moved to Topeka.

Goetz served as first sergeant with the Supply Squadron, Group Headquarters, and the 190th Resource Management Squadron on five separate occasions among those units. His other assignments included supervisor of vehicle maintenance and a second tour as NCOIC of disaster preparedness.

In 1988, Goetz was promoted to chief master sergeant and was appointed senior enlisted advisor (SEA) for the Kansas Air National Guard, the top enlisted position in the state.

His tour as SEA was marked by his drive to improve NCO education and professionalism. He actively promoted resident school attendance of Professional Military Education (PME) courses such as Leadership School, NCO Academy, and the Senior NCO Academy. The Kansas Air National Guard became the leader in the number of PME graduates.

Goetz strengthened senior NCO leadership by initiating the First Sergeants Council at the 184th Fighter Group, Wichita, and co-organized the council at the 190th Air Refueling Group, Topeka. At the Topeka Council, Goetz created the Airman of the Quarter Program. He also used his own funds to create an award of a plaque and membership in the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Kansas to deserving graduates of the Kansas Air National Guard Leadership School.

During Operation Desert Shield in 1990, Goetz was diagnosed with cancer. In spite of this, he postponed his treatment and asked to be excused from his SEA duties to serve as first sergeant of the newly-created 1701st Air Refueling Wing, Provisional, in Saudi Arabia. He was responsible for managing a unit with a mix of active duty, reserve, and Guard airmen.

Goetz returned to serve the Kansas Air National Guard until his retirement in 1992. He worked closely with his Army National Guard equivalent, the state command sergeant major, to put into place many of the joint Army and Air National Guard projects in use today.

He is a lifetime member of the Enlisted Association of the Nation Guard of Kansas and the Air Force Association. Goetz also belongs to the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Air Force Sergeants Diamond Club. His leadership extended to the civilian sector as well. Goetz was United Way coordinator for the Postal Service for five years and assisted the Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon in Wichita for ten years. He continues to serve as chairman of the board of the Government Employees Credit Union in Wichita and acts as financial advisor for the Wichita Area Postal Employees Assistance Program.

Goetz is now retired from both the Air Guard and the Postal Service, living in Rose Hill with his wife, Marilyn.