CMSgt Paul J. McGuirk serves as the Command Chief of the 136th Airlift Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Chief McGuirk advises the wing commander and his staff on all matters regarding mission readiness, professional development, proper utilization, health, morale and welfare of the wings 1100 Airmen and their families. This includes two geographically separated units that serve our communities, state, and nation for homeland defense.,
Chief McGuirk enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in San Diego, California in October 1996. Following training in September 1998 he arrived at his first duty station VMGR-152, Marine Corps Air Station, Futenma, Okinawa, Japan as a mission loadmaster. Over the next several years, he participated in numerous multi-national exercises earning the title of qualified loadmaster instructor. He then transferred to VMGR-234 at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas, in 2001 where he instructed new loadmasters and certified others as loadmaster flight evaluators. During this time, he participated in numerous deployments, exercises and attended two advanced tactics courses. He then transferred to the Texas Air National Guard in November 2006, where he served as a loadmaster scheduler, instructor, and a flight examiner for the 181st Airlift Squadron, 136th Airlift Wing. While assigned to the 181st Airlift Squadron, he deployed numerous times in support of large-scale operations including ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENET RESOLVE, and FREEDOM SENTINEL.
He was promoted to the Career Enlisted Manager in October 2017 and served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor during the Polish AVDET 19-1. From November 2020 - December 2023, CMSgt McGuirk was a key component for the directive to convert aircraft from the C-130H to the C-130J for the 136th Operations Group. In October 2025 he was also the lead advisor on implementation of a new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron for the 136th Operations Group. Prior to his current position, Chief McGuirk was the 136th Operations Group Senior Enlisted Leader.
EDUCATION
1999 USAF Advance Aeronautics and Tactics Training Course, St. Joseph, MO
2001 USMC Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2004 USMC Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2004 USMC Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ
2005 USAF Technical Transportation of Hazardous Materials Course, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, TX
2008 USAF Joint Airdrop Inspection Course, Savannah, GA
2009 USAF Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2009 USAF Loadmaster Instructor Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, AR
2011 USAF Senior Non-Commissioned Office Academy, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016 USAF Associate Degree in Aviation Operations, CCAF, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2017 DoD Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2018 Air National Guard Chiefs Executive Course, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2021 C-130J Loadmaster Transition Course, Little Rock AFB, AR
2021 Air National Guard Contemporary Base Issues, virtual
2023 DoD Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2024 Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), by correspondence
2025 Continuous Improvement & Innovation for the Executive, Duke University, NC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996–January 1997, Trainee, U.S. Marine Corps Basic Training, Marine Corps Recruiting District San Diego, CA
2. March 1997–May 1997, Student, Marine Combat Training, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA
3. June 1997–July 1997, Student, Naval Aircrew Candidate School, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL
4. October 1997–November 1997, Student, Basic Loadmaster Course, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
5. November 1997–January 1998, Student, Initial Qualification, Little Rock AFB, AR
6. January 1998–March 1998, Student, Loadmaster Mission Qualification, Little Rock AFB, AR
7. March 1998–July 1998, Student, Loadmaster Continued Training, VMGR-253, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC
8. August 1998–August 1998, Student, Combat Survival Training, NAS Brunswick, ME
9. September 1998–October 2001, Mission Loadmaster, VMGR-152, MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
10. October 2001–November 2006, Mission Instructor Loadmaster, VMGR-234, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
11. November 2006–May 2009, Mission Instructor Loadmaster/Flight Scheduler, 181st Airlift Squadron, 136th Airlift Wing, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
12. May 2009–February 2013, Mission Instructor Loadmaster/Unit Training Manager, 136th Operational Support Flight, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
13. February 2013–October 2017, Senior Flight Examiner, 136th Operations Group, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
(October 2015–December 2015, Superintendent, 737th Expeditionary Air Station, Ali Al Salem Air Base Kuwait)
14. October 2017–April 2021, Career Enlisted Manager, 136th Operational Support Squadron, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX (March 2019-April 2019, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Polish AVDET 19-1, Poland)
15. April 2021 – July 2026, 136th Operations Group Senior Enlisted Leader, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
16. July 2026 – Present, 136th Airlift Wing Command Chief, NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Chief Airman Aircrew member
Flight hours: more than 5200 flying hours
Aircraft flown: KC-130F/R/T, C-130H, C-130H2/H3, C-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal w/ one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of Texas, life-time member
Carswell Chief Council President, 2019-2021
Carswell Chief Council, 2021-Present
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Marine Private First-Class (October 1996)
Marine Sergeant (April 2000)
Marine Staff Sergeant (October 2005)
Technical Sergeant (November 2006)
Master Sergeant (September 02, 2009)
Senior Master Sergeant (December 03, 2013)
Chief Master Sergeant (October 03, 2017)
Command Chief Master Sergeant (July 25, 2026)
(Current as of August 2026)