Staff Profile - Master Sergeant Kenneth H. Clere

Master Sergeant Kenneth H. Clere is the Aerospace Science Instructor at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina.

Master Sergeant Kenneth Clere entered the Air Force in January 1985. His initial assignment was with the 693rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS) at Castle AFB near Merced,California. He performed maintenance on the Air Force’s premier refueling aircraft, the KC-135. While assigned to Castle AFB Sergeant Clere progressed through the maintenance career field and earned the position of KC-135 Crew Chief, a duty that assigned him as the principal maintenance expert on a dedicated aircraft. He was responsible for the condition of that aircraft at all times. In 1987, Sergeant Clere earned the rank of Senior Airman through a “Below the Zone” promotion which accelerated his rank above his peers. In 1995, Sergeant Clere was reassigned to Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. Duties at Grand Forks involved serving as a “Flying Crew Chief” to assess maintenance conditions during actual flight.

Because of his extensive maintenance background, Sergeant Clere earned a position in the Maintenance Operations Control Center which monitored the condition of all aircraft assigned to the base. After this duty, Sergeant Clere was selected to serve as an Assistant Section Chief and Training Manager to ensure the quality training of all maintenance personnel. In 2002 Sergeant Clere was selected to serve as the Executive Assistant to the flying wing’s Command Chief Master Sergeant. In this important position, he assumed responsibilities for the welfare, promotions, and training of all enlisted personnel on the base. In 2004 MSgt Clere was selected to serve as a Flight Chief for the Grand Forks AFB Airman Leadership School, an organization which prepares Airmen to supervise and lead Air Force work teams to support the employment of air and space power. He taught and supervised a five-week-long curriculum that covered military training, leadership and communication skills.

Master Sergeant Clere is a graduate of the Air Force’s Noncommissioned Preparatory Course and Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA). He was awarded the Air Force Certified Mechanic and Certified Master Mechanic ratings – certifications awarded to only the top one percent of all personnel in the Maintenance career field. Sergeant Clere has completed two Community College of the Air Force degrees: one an Associates in Applied Sciences in Aircraft Systems Technology and the other an Instructor of Technology and Military Science Degree. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Management/Human Resources from Park University.

MSgt Clere has received the following honors during his Air Force career: He was named 93rd Bomb Wing Airman of the Quarter, 1986; Senior Airman below the Zone and Airman of the Quarter, 1988. He earned Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter honors in 1995 and was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He was selected as Crew Chief of the Year in 1995. He received the Leo Marquez Outstanding Supervisor of the Year award for the Air Force Education and Training Command in 1995. He was also named as the Base Honor Guard Member of the Year for 2001 and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Honor Guard Member of the Year for 2002 and 2003. He is also the recipient of the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award for 2005. Sergeant Clere’s outstanding performance and leadership was recognized with promotion to Master Sergeant under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program (STEP) in 2003 – a promotion reserved for only the top Noncommissioned Officers.

MSgt Clere’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, the USAF Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.