Chief Master Sergeant Lawrence “Larry” DeSalle is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 137th Special Operations Wing, Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) for the approximately 1,200 Airmen of the wing, and advises the commander on issues affecting their welfare, development, training, utilization, and readiness. CMSgt DeSalle provides leadership, mentorship, and assistance, and guides organizations and individuals toward success. The 137th SOW provides geographic combatant commanders, special operations command, theater special operations commanders, and task force commanders with manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, agile combat support, cyber, and aeromedical evacuation.
CMSgt DeSalle began his career in the United States Air Force in January 1988. He trained and served as an Electronic Warfare Technician until November 1993 when he left active duty service to enlist in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. In that position he stood up and was the shop chief of the Electronic Warfare Shop, which was decommissioned in 2008. Following unit conversion he retrained and became the 137 MXS First Sergeant, taking care of the health, moral and welfare of over 250 Airmen. In 2016, unit conversion again presented an opportunity. CMSgt DeSalle was selected as the SEL for the 285th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron, upon its activation, he retrained as an Operations Intelligence Analyst (1N0), leading the initial training and deployment of expeditionary Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analysts and Operations Intelligence Analysts in support of Air Force Special Operations. Throughout his career, CMSgt DeSalle has deployed around the globe to participate in various combat, support operations and contingencies in Puerto Rico, Germany, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq and Uzbekistan.
Prior to his current assignment, CMSgt DeSalle served as the SEL of the 137th Special Operations Group. He provided leadership, mentorship, assistance, and guided organizations and individuals toward success. The 137th SOG provides Special Operations Command Manned ISR, FTU, PED, ASOS, INTEL, Aero-Medical and TSO personnel to execute wing operations and requirements.
EDUCATION
1988 Electronic Principals Course, Keesler, Air Force Base (AFB), MS
1988 Electronic Warfare fundamentals Course, Keesler, Air Force Base (AFB), MS
1991 Noncommissioned Officer Prep Course, Carswell AFB, TX
2002 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2009 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, AL
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2016 Associates Degree in Avionic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Dynamics of International Terrorism, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, FL
2017 Intelligence Fundamentals Course, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX
2017 All Source Intelligence Apprentice Course, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX
2017 AFSOC Intelligence Formal Training Unit (IFTU), Hurlburt Field, FL
2018 Chiefs’ Executive Course, Andrews AFB, MD
2021 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (EJPME II), by correspondence
2022 Special Operations Task Group Course (SOTG), USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, FL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1989-October 1990, Electronic Warfare Journeyman, Fairchild AFB, Washington
2. June 1990-June 1992, Electronic Warfare Technician, Carswell AFB, Texas
3. June 1992-November 1993, Electronic Warfare Technician, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
4. May 1995-April 2009, Electronic Warfare Superintendent, Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma
5. April 2009-February 2013, 137 MXS First Sergeant, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
6. February 2013-July 2016, Avionics Superintendent Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
7. July 2016-January 2020, 285 SOIS Senior Enlisted Leader, Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma
8. January 2020-August 2022, Operations Group Senior Enlisted Leader, Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma
9. August 2022-Present, Command Chief, 137 Special Operations Wing, Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class 26 Feb.1988
Senior Airman 26 Jun. 1990
Staff Sergeant 20 Jun. 1995
Technical Sergeant 3 Feb. 1998
Master Sergeant 1 Sep. 2004
Senior Master Sergeant 1 Mar. 2012
Chief Master Sergeant 1 Aug. 2016
(Current as of November 2022)