Chief Master Sergeant DARIN J. HOWELL CMSgt Darin J. Howell is the Command Chief, 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The wing is global in nature and spans the full spectrum of ISR operations including lead for the Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System, Combined/Joint Forces Air Component Commander support, and national-to-tactical signals intelligence. Chief Howell serves as the principal enlisted advisor to the Commander regarding operational readiness, mission effectiveness, professional development, morale, and welfare over 5,300 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across the globe, spanning six groups, twenty-three squadrons, four detachments, and eight operating locations. Additionally, 2,300 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen across 11 states take operational direction from the wing, creating a total force integration force presentation of over 7,600 mission capable and operationally focused ISR, cyber, and support professionals Chief Howell grew up in British Columbia, Canada on large cattle ranch and entered the Air Force in August 2002 as a Cryptologic Linguist starting his career in Intelligence Operations. Since then, he has completed various assignments within the National Security Agency and Special Operations community. Chief Howell has led many Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance programs, systems, Airmen, and Joint Service members at various home station units and in conflict locations spanning the globe. He has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINAL and multiple other contingency operations. He holds over 1,500 combat flying hours in special ops manned ISR aircraft. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Howell led as the Senior Enlisted Leader, 58th Operation Group, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Throughout his career, he has earned Distinguished Graduate at every level of PME, along with multiple individual and unit awards at group and MAJCOM levels. EDUCATION 2002 Aviation Business, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah 2003 Basic Hebrew Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, California 2004 Apprentice Middle East Cryptologic Linguist Hebrew, Goodfellow AFB, Texas 2006 Airman Leadership School Residence Course, Shaw AFB, South Carolina 2010 Basic Dari Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, California 2010 Awarded two Defense Language Institute AA degrees in Liberal Arts 2012 Awarded CCAF in Intelligence Studies 2013 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Mcghee-Tyson ANGB, Tennessee 2013 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Non-Residence 2014 Air Operators Training Course, Data Masked Location 2015 Direct Support Operators Course, Green Team, 724 STG, North Carolina 2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Phase I 2017 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Residence, Gunter Annex, Alabama 2018 Senior Enlisted ISR Master Skills Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas 2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II 2022 Chief Orientation Course, Montgomery AFB, Alabama 2025 Pre Command Team Training & SELO, Montgomery AFB, Alabama ASSIGNMENTS 1. Aug 2002 – Sept 2002, Student, 321st TRS Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas 2. Sept 2002 – Mar 2004, Student, 311th TRS, DLI, Presidio of Monterey, California 3. Mar 2004 – Aug 2004, Student, 316th TRS, Goodfellow AFB, Texas 4. Aug 2004 – Apr 2009, Cryptologic Linguist, Subject Matter Expert, 31st IS, Fort Gordon, Georgia 5. Apr 2009 – Jun 2010, Student, 314th TRS, DLI, Presidio of Monterey, California 6. Jun 2010 – Aug 2013, NCOIC, 31st IS, Fort Gordon, Georgia 7. Aug 2013 – Aug 2018, Flight Chief and ISR Operations Superintendent, Data Masked Unit, JTF 8. Aug 2018 – Aug 2020, Operations Superintendent, 303d IS, Osan Air Base, Korea 9. Aug 2020 – Jun 2022, Sq SEL, 402d IS, Darmstadt and USAG Wiesbaden, Clay Kaserne, Germany 10. Jun 2022 – July 2024, SEL, European Mission Operations Center, USAG Wiesbaden, Clay Kaserne, Germany 11. July 2024 – May 2025, SEL, 58th Operations Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico 12. May 2025 – Present, Command Chief, 480 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Langley AFB, Virginia MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Medal (15) Joint Service Commendation Medal (2) Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal National Defense Service Medal (2) Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3) Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (2) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal NATO Medal (2) OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2006 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School 2007 NCO of the Year, AFISRA 2010 US Army Academic Achievement Award, Defense Language Institute 2011 AFISRA Pitsenbarger/Vanguard, AFISRA 2012 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year & ISR Technician of the Year, 31 IS 2013 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy 2013 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, AFISRA 2015-2016 Two-time Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Data Masked Unit, JTF 2017 2017 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy 2019 J2 Intel Leader of the Year, United States Forces Korea 2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 694 ISR Group 2021 ACC ISR Unit of the Year 2022 16 AF AFA Verne Orr Unit of the Year EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Airmen Basic 6 Aug. 2002 Airman First Class 20 Sept. 2002 Senior Airman 20 Jan. 2005 Staff Sergeant 1 March 2007 Technical Sergeant 1 June 2011 Master Sergeant 1 June 2015 Senior Master Sergeant 1 March 2018 Chief Master Sergeant 1 April 2022 (Current as of May 29, 2025)