Chief Master Sergeant Simon H. L. Fancher is the Command Chief for the 521st Air Mobility Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the senior enlisted leader, he is the principal advisor to the commander on readiness, welfare, professional development, and efficient management of over 2,000 Airmen. The wing provides command and control, en route maintenance support, aeromedical evacuation, expeditionary aircrew support, and air transportation services for theater and strategic air mobility missions in Europe, Southwest Asia, and Northern Africa spanning across 16 operating locations in support of U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Central Command engagements.
A Colorado native, Chief Fancher entered the Air Force in August 1999, graduating the KC-10A Maintenance Apprentice course at Sheppard AFB, Texas in December 1999. Chief Fancher has a diverse background spanning six MAJCOMs and a variety of experience with multiple weapons system platforms including the KC-10A, C-130H, KC-135R/T, F-16C/D, C- 5M, C-17A, RC-135 V/W/U/S, MC-130J, CV-22B, C-32, C-40B, and C-37A/B aircraft. His background includes working as a Quality Assurance Inspector and C-130 Initial Skills Qualification Technical Training Instructor with more than 2,500 teaching hours. Chief Fancher has deployed in direct support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, NATO’s Resolute Support mission, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa, and numerous air bridge operations. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, 4th Mission Support Group, Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina, providing advice on professional development, safety, health, morale, welfare, organization, operational employment for the largest F-15E Strike Eagle wing.
EDUCATION
1999 KC-10A Initial Qualification Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2004 Airman Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif. 2010 Basic Instructor Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2011 Associate in Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Associate in Applied Science, Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, by correspondence 2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2014 Advanced Instructional Systems Designer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 14, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence 2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air Mobility Command Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Scott AFB, Ill., by distance learning
2021 AFPC Squadron Commander & Superintendent Course, Randolph AFB, Texas, by distance learning
2021 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Global/Regional Course – Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2025 Command Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Wing Mission Integration Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2025 Wing Command Team Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1999–September 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. September 1999–December 1999, Student, KC-10A Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. December 1999–April 2007, KC-10A Craftsman, 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif. (December 2001–March 2002, KC-10A Craftsman, 462d Air Expeditionary Group, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, August 2002 October 2002, KC-10A Craftsman, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group (EMXG), Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates; January 2003–April 2003 Maintenance Operations Center Controller, 380th EMXG, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
4. April 2007–July 2010, Quality Assurance Inspector, 60th Maintenance Group, Travis AFB, Calif. (January–May 2008, Quality Assurance Inspector, 380 EMXG, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates; January–May 2010, Quality Assurance Inspector, 380 EMXG, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
5. July 2010–July 2014, C-130 Instructor, Instructor Supervisor, 362d Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
6. July 2014–August 2018, Lead Production Superintendent, 92d Maintenance Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash. (April 2016–November 2016, F-16 Maintenance Flight Chief, Crash Recovery Team Chief, 455 EMXS, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
7 . August 2018–July 2021, Maintenance Superintendent, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent, 726th Air Mobility Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
8. July 2021–April 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 82d Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
9. April 2023–June 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
10. June 2024–June 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 89th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Andrews, MD
11. June 2025-June 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 4th Mission Support Group, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, NC
12. June 2026-Present, Command Chief, Command Chief, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one device
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal – Afghanistan
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Knucklebuster of the Year, 60th Maintenance Group
2007 Maintenance Support Professional of the Year, 60th Maintenance Group
2010 Outstanding Professional of the Year, 60th Air Mobility Wing
2013 Master Instructor, Community College of the Air Force 2016 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award, 92d Air Refueling Wing
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 92d Maintenance Group
2017 Chief Master Sergeant Fred Archer Military Award, 92d Maintenance Group
2019 General Lew Allen Jr., Trophy, 721st Air Mobility Operations Group 2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 726th Air Mobility Squadron
2020 Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award, Air Mobility Command
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic August 12, 1999
Airman February 12, 2000
Airman First Class December 12, 2000
Senior Airman August 12, 2002
Staff Sergeant December 1, 2004
Technical Sergeant February 1, 2011
Master Sergeant April 1, 2015
Senior Master Sergeant November 1, 2018
Chief Master Sergeant September 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2026)