Chief Master Sergeant Tessa M. Fontaine is the Command Chief, Special Warfare Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Chapman Training Annex, Texas. She is the principal advisor to the Wing Commander on the effective utilization, professional development, training readiness, and welfare of the wing’s enlisted force. As the Air Forces only Special Warfare Training Wing their mission focuses on recruitment, assessment, selection and the training of future ground combat forces. The wing is comprised of a Special Warfare Training Group and Human Performance Support Group totaling seven squadrons of Special Warfare operators, Combat Mission Support personnel, Human Performance and Operational Medicine specialists operating across eight operating locations.
Chief Fontaine was raised in Holyoke, Mass until she entered the Air Force in 1998. Her Security Forces background includes various bases, deployments, and duties including Standardizations and Evaluations, Antiterrorism/Force Protection, and Investigations. Additionally, she was assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office, in Chantilly, Virginia where she drove multiple joint espionage investigations securing spy convictions. From there she served as a Military Training Instructor and in various leadership positions within Basic Military Training before returning to Security Forces. Prior to her current assignment she was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 377th Mission Support Group, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
EDUCATION
1998 Security Police Apprentice Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2001 Airman Leadership School, Aviano Air Base, Italy
2003 Military Police Investigations School, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
2006 Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
2009 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 Advanced Espionage Course, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Va.
2011 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Administration, University of Phoenix
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (I), National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2012 DoD Windows Forensic Examiner/Media Collector, Defense Counterintelligence Training Academy, Md.
2013 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2013 Military Training Instructor School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2015 Associate of Applied Science, Education and Training Management, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, by distance learning
2022 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1998 - May 1998, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. May 1998 - July 1998, Student, Security Police Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. August 1998 - December 1999, Security Forces Apprentice, 320th Missile Squadron, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.
4. January 2000 - January 2003, Security Forces Evaluator, 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
5. January 2003 - December 2005, Patrolman/Security Forces Investigator, 1st Security Forces Squadron, Langley AFB, Va. (Base Defense Operations Center Controller, Kirkuk AB, Iraq)
6. January 2006 - December 2009, Special Investigations/AT, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, Va.
7. January 2010 - September 2013, Superintendent, Counterintelligence and Cyber Inquiries, NRO, Chantilly, Va.
8. October 2013 - October 2014, Military Training Instructor, 320th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)- Lackland, Texas
9. November 2014 - December 2015, Instructor Supervisor/Training Superintendent, 323rd Training Squadron, JBSA- Lackland,Texas
10. January 2016 - May 2017, Squadron Superintendent, 737th Training Support Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
11. May 2017 - October 2018, Security Forces Manager, 341st Security Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
12. November 2018 - September 2019, Security Forces Manager, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
13. September 2019 - May 2020, Security Forces Manager, 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. June 2020 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 377th Mission Support Group, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
15. July 2022 – Present, Special Warfare Training Wing, Command Chief, JBSA Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon
AF Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
AF Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2006 Noncommissioned Office of the Year, National Reconnaissance Office
2009 Director’s Circle Award, National Reconnaissance Office
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Air Force Space Command
2012 U.S. Attorney General Achievement Award
2012 Bronze Medal, National Reconnaissance Office
2013 Commandant’s Award, Military Training Instructor School
2013 Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant: October 2018
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2022)