Chief Master Sergeant Caldwell serves as the second Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the South Carolina National Guard. She is responsible for communicating the goals and direction of The Adjutant General while also representing and advising the concerns and views of all guard Soldiers and Airmen.
Chief Caldwell enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1988 on active duty. She graduated from the Medical Laboratory Specialist Course (Phase I) at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in 1989, and the Medical Laboratory Apprentice Course (Phase II) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio in 1990. In 1990, Chief Caldwell was assigned to the 9th Medical Group Beale Air Force Base, California as a medical laboratory technician. In 1992, she moved to Chicago, Illinois and joined the 928th Air Operations Support Squadron, O'Hare International Airport - Air Reserve Station to continue her laboratory career as a reservist. In 1994, she transferred to the Illinois ANG with the 126th Medical Group Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In 2004, Chief Caldwell relocated to Summerville, South Carolina to pursue a civilian career as a criminal investigator and transferred to the 169th Medical Group laboratory. In 2009, she was selected as the 169th Medical Group First Sergeant and was later recognized as the 2010 First Sergeant Outstanding Airman of The Year. In 2012, she cross-trained from the laboratory into Health Services Management as the non-commissioned officer in charge and became a Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist.
During her military career, she served as a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor, National Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, and Drug Testing Program Administration Monitor. Chief Caldwell was instrumental in outstanding ratings during unit health services inspections, operational readiness exercises and inspections, staff assistance visits, and unit compliance inspections. In addition, she led unit morale events, fostered teamwork, provided mentorship, enforced military standards, promoted continued education and participation in enlisted councils, and volunteered for community service events.
Chief Caldwell is a civilian special agent assigned to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia as an economic crimes' criminal investigator. She deployed to Baghdad International Airport, Iraq in 2006 and Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan in 2012 as a counterintelligence agent. Her previously assigned duty stations include: Glynco, Georgia from 2013-2019, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma from 2012-2013, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia from 2008-2012, and Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina from 2004-2008. Prior to her career as a criminal investigator, Chief Caldwell worked in a crime lab as a forensic scientist specializing in latent print comparisons in Rockford, Illinois from 2002-2004.
Prior to assuming her current position, Chief Caldwell was the Superintendent, 169th Medical Group, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina.
EDUCATION
1992 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course, by correspondence
1994 Associate in Science, Biology, Harry S. Truman College, Chicago, Ill.
1996 Medical Laboratory Craftsman, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1999 Associate in Applied Science, Medical Laboratory Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2002 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Ill.
2005 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Ala., by correspondence
2008 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Contemporary Base Issues Course, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
2009 Associate in Applied Science, Human Resources Management, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer College, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Four Lenses, Savannah, Combat Readiness Training Center, Ga.
2014 Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer PME Course, Joint Forces Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Associate in Applied Science, Health Care Management, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Master of Arts, Criminal Justice with High Honors, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2018 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase II Certification, USNORTHCOM, Ft. Hood, Texas
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Knowledge Online, by correspondence
2021 ANG Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
2022 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2023 Operationalizing Women, Peace and Security 100, Conference Center of Americas, Doral, FL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
South Carolina Achievement Ribbon
South Carolina Active State Service Ribbon Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2010 Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year, SCANG
2010 Exceptional Promotion Program, 169th Medical Group, SCANG
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1988 – November 1988, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. November 1988 – April 1989, Student, Phase I Technical Training School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 1989 – January 1990, Student, Phase II Technical Training School, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. January 1990 – May 1992, Medical Laboratory Specialist, 9th Medical Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
5. May 1992 – December 1994, Medical Laboratory Specialist, 928th Medical Squadron, O'Hare ARS, Ill.
6. December 1994 – June 2004, Medical Laboratory Technician, 126th Medical Group, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. June 2004 – July 2008, Medical Laboratory Technician, 169th Medical Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
8. July 2008 – July 2012, First Sergeant, 169th Medical Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
9. July 2012 – August 2018, Health Services Management, 169th Medical Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
10. August 2018 – May 2021, Superintendent, 169th Medical Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
11. May 2021 – Present, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, South Carolina National Guard, Columbia, S.C.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Legion Post 160, 2023-Present
National Guard Association of Illinois, Lifetime
National Guard Association of South Carolina, Lifetime
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, 2019-Present
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, 2014
National Healthcareer Association, Certified Electronic Record Specialist, 2013
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman March 20, 1989
Airman First Class Jan. 20, 1990
Senior Airman Sept. 20, 1991
Staff Sergeant March 1, 1993
Technical Sergeant Sept. 8, 1996
Master Sergeant June 12, 1999
Senior Master Sergeant Oct. 1, 2009
Chief Master Sergeant Aug.15, 2018
(CURRENT AS OF MAY 2023)