Editing Chief master sergeant (section)

=== Historical notes ===
[[File:E9 USAF CMSgt 1967-1991.svg|thumb|upright|Chief master sergeant insignia (1958–1994)]]

Although the Air Force had been an independent service since 1947, the rank of chief master sergeant did not come into being until the authorization of the [[Military Pay Act of 1958]]. This act established the [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States|pay grades]] of E-8 and E-9 in the [[United States armed forces]], but without specifying titles for those pay grades. It was not until late 1958 that the title "chief master sergeant" and the accompanying rank insignia were adopted.

The original chief master sergeant rank insignia, used from 1958 to 1994, consisted of two chevrons on top, three stripes in the middle, and three rockers on the bottom.

Until his retirement in 2003, Chief Master Sergeant [[Norman Marous]] was the Air Force's most senior chief master sergeant, having served in the Air Force since 1962. Marous left active duty in 1967 to spend 22 years in the [[United States Air Force Reserve]] and [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] before returning to active duty as a chief master sergeant in 1989. He retired in 2003 with 41½ years of service.  He is the only person authorized to wear two [[longevity ribbon]]s, due to the space required for the number of multiple award devices authorized.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Long and Winding Road |magazine=Airman Magazine |date=July 2003 |first=Scott |last=Wagers}} Indelible impressions, Airman's Notebook</ref>