The 5th Chief Master Sergeant of the US Air Force from 1977 to 1979 passed away on January 17 at the age of 93. ICYMI The NCO academy at Lackland Air Force Base is named after him. 

 CMSAF Gaylor will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Assembly Area
1:30 PM


READ NEWS RELEASE BELOW

•	Published Jan. 17, 2024
•	Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  
Robert D. Gaylor, the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, passed away Jan. 17, at the age of 93.

Gaylor’s career spanned nearly 31 years, leaving a legacy of service, leadership and dedication.

"CMSAF Gaylor was a pillar of our Air Force,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “For more than 75 years, both in uniform and after he retired, he served our Airmen and the institution he loved so dearly. He will be deeply missed by all.”

Gaylor was selected as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force on Aug. 1, 1977. In this role, he served as the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the most senior noncommissioned officer in the Air Force. He represented the interests of enlisted Airmen at the highest levels of the service and played a key role in shaping Air Force policies.

Among his numerous achievements as CMSAF, he played a significant role in the creation of the Air Force’s new maternity uniform and pushed for a policy change allowing junior enlisted Airmen undergoing a permanent change of station to transport their families at the government’s expense.

Gaylor enlisted in the Air Force in 1948, at a time when the service was still in its infancy. He began his career in the security police, continued to serve in a variety of assignments, including in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. He also served as an instructor at the Second Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, assisted in reopening the then-Strategic Air Command NCO Academy, and established the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Command Management and Leadership Center.
Following his retirement in 1979, Gaylor never wavered in his commitment to the Air Force community, remaining actively involved with Airmen and their families through organizations, like the Air Force Memorial Foundation and the Air Force Sergeants Association. He continued to meet with Airmen for the remainder of his life, advocating tirelessly for the well-being and professional development of those who served. Air Force community, remaining actively involved with Airmen and their families through organizations, like the Air Force Memorial Foundation and the Air Force Sergeants Association. He continued to meet with Airmen for the remainder of his life, advocating tirelessly for the well-being and professional development of those who served.

Robert D. Gaylor (Korea, Vietnam) is a Notable burial at https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftsamhouston.asp. 

Gaylor was born in Iowa on May 8, 1930 and grew up in Indiana. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1948, a year after the service was established. He chose the security policeman field and remained in it until 1957. He had assignments stateside and abroad. In 1956 he attained the rank of master sergeant, which was the highest enlisted rank at the time. 

Wanting more advancement, he was encouraged to remain in the service as higher enlisted ranks were to be created in the near future. He obtained the rank of chief master sergeant in 1968. Gaylor was among the first instructors at newly created NCO academies. Beginning in 1971 he taught management techniques around European bases for USAFE and established the Command Management and Leadership Center for NCOs. 

He was selected as the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force in 1977 and served in that position until his retirement in 1979. Among his numerous achievements was leading the creation of a maternity uniform at a time when the service was losing talented females. He remained an active Airman in retirement; meeting with, speaking to, and supporting the Air Force community until the end of his life.

*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events. 

ROBERT D GAYLOR

Service

KOREA

VIETNAM

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL

AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL

US AIR FORCE,

CMSAF

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

Biography

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us