Chief Master Sergeant Joseph B. Cohan is the Command Chief of the 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York. In this position, he serves as the senior enlisted leader for the wing’s approximately 1,300 assigned enlisted personnel. Further, he is the principal advisor to the wing commander on all matters regarding health, morale, welfare, readiness, professional development and proper utilization of the enlisted force.
Chief Cohan enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2001 as an F-15 aircraft armament systems technician, stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. In 2006, Chief Cohan joined the New York Air National Guard, with the 105th Airlift Wing, where he cross-trained as a munitions systems specialist, and went on to serve as the munitions flight chief for more than a decade. In September 2018, Chief Cohan was appointed to serve as the superintendent of the 105th’s Inspector General Office and shortly thereafter was appointed as the director of inspections. In this position, he was responsible for leading all phases of the Wing Commander’s Inspection Program and evaluating the 105 AW's overall mission readiness and effectiveness. Chief Cohan then went on to serve as the senior enlisted leader of two groups in the 105th.
In early 2020, Chief Cohan was assigned to serve as the senior enlisted leader of the 105th Medical Group, notably during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this position, he was responsible for the health, morale, welfare, readiness, professional development and proper utilization of more than 90 healthcare professionals. Additionally, he oversaw all elements of the group’s manpower, resources and training, ensuring that the unit’s diverse missions were aligned with the commander’s intent and priorities, as well as in accordance with all applicable higher headquarters’ policy.
Prior to his current position as the 105th Airlift Wing’s command chief, Chief Cohan served as the senior enlisted leader of the 105th Base Defense Squadron. As the squadron converted to a group, he helped establish the organizational structure and command teams for what became the first base defense group in the Air National Guard. As the principal enlisted advisor to the 105th Base Defense Group commander, Chief Cohan provided the strategic leadership necessary to oversee the daily operations of three subordinate squadrons in direct support of two major commands, Air Mobility Command with integrated base defense operations for the 105th Airlift Wing and Air Combat Command with expeditionary Air Base Ground Defense in partnership with the 820th Base Defense Group, Moody AFB, Georgia.
EDUCATION
2001 Aircraft Weapons Systems Apprentice School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2006 Munitions Systems Apprentice School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2006 Airmen Leadership School, by correspondence
2007 Munitions Inspector School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2008 Air Force Combat Ammunition Planning and Production School, Beale AFB, Calif.
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2016 Associate of Applied Science, Munitions Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Part I, by correspondence
2018 Air Force Combat Ammunition Planning and Production School, Supervisor, Beale AFB, Calif.
2018 Inspector General Training Course - Inspections, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Inspector General Training Course - Complaints Resolution, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2019 Readiness Exercise Advance Planning Execution and Reporting Course, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
2019 Contemporary Base Issues Course, Martinsburg, W.Va.
2019 Air National Guard Continuous Process Improvement, Green Belt Course, Stewart ANG Base, N.Y.
2020 Emotional Intelligence Course, Stewart ANG Base, N.Y.
2020 Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeants Orientation Course, by correspondence
2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certification, University of South Florida, by correspondence
2021 Air National Guard Resource Management Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2021 Medical Readiness Management Course, Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas
2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Part II, by correspondence
2021 Air National Guard Protocol Course, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
2022 Combined Senior Leadership Course, Falls Church, Va.
2023 Security Forces Leadership Development Course, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2023 National Security Management Course, Maxwell School, Syracuse University, Syracuse N.Y.
2024 Tactical Skills Course, 820th Base Defense Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 2002 – May 2005: Weapon Systems Journeyman, 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Ala.
2. January 2006 – March 2007: Munition System Technician, 105th Maintenance Squadron, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
3. March 2007 – September 2018: Munitions Flight Chief, 105th Maintenance Squadron, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
4. September 2018 – July 2019: Inspector General Superintendent, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
5. July 2019 – March 2020: Director of Inspections, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
6. March 2020 – February 2024: Senior Enlisted Leader, 105th Medical Group, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
7. April 2023 – August 2025: Senior Enlisted Leader, 105th Base Defense Group, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
8. August 2025 – Present: Command Chief Master Sergeant, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, N.Y.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant May 1, 2020
(Current as of August 2025)