Chief Master Sgt. Thomas C. Flynn is the Senior Enlisted Leader at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. As the SEL, he is the principal enlisted advisor to the Commander on personnel management, enlisted matters, training issues, resource allocation, and the implementation of the Civil Engineer Strategy. Chief Flynn delivers care and support to the 2,200 personnel who provide responsive, flexible full-spectrum installation engineering services and execute $11.8 billion in contracts. AFCEC missions include facility investment planning, design and construction, operations support, real property management and oversight, energy support, environmental compliance and restoration, and readiness and emergency management. The unit conducts its operations at more than 72 locations worldwide. Furthermore, he interfaces with command teams across 100 Air Force and United States Space Force installations regarding the $33 billion enterprise-wide military family, unaccompanied, and privatized housing portfolio spanning 58,000 housing units.
Chief Flynn graduated from the Structural Apprentice course at Naval Construction Training Center Gulfport, Mississippi in May of 1999. His experience encompasses installation tours of duty in Air Combat Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, Pacific Air Forces, United States Air Forces in Europe, and Air Education and Training Command, including various positions at the squadron and group levels. Chief Flynn has also deployed in support of Operations New Horizons, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. Prior to his current position, he was the Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
2002 Airman Leadership School, Shaw AFB, S.C.
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2014 Associate of Applied Science in Construction Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Operations Management, Summa Cum Laude, Arizona State University, Tempe
2021 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1998 – January 1999, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
2. January 1999 – May 1999, Student, 366th Training Squadron, NCBC, Gulfport, Miss.
3. May 1999 – September 2004, Structural Journeyman, 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. September 2004 – September 2005, Structural Journeyman, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. September 2005 – October 2008, Structural Craftsman, 15th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
6. October 2008 – August 2012, Structural Craftsman, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. August 2012 – August 2013, Executive Assistant, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. August 2013 – October 2014, Structural Craftsman, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. October 2014 – October 2015, Mission Support Flight Chief, 36th Mission Support Group Det 1, Diego Garcia Naval Support Facility, British Indian Ocean Territory
10. October 2015 – January 2017, Infrastructure Superintendent, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall, England
11. January 2017 – October 2017, Commander Support Staff Superintendent, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
12. October 2017 – January 2019, Operations Engineering Superintendent, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
13. January 2019 – January 2020, Operations Flight Superintendent, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
14. February 2020 – September 2021, Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
15. October 2021 – April 2023, Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
16. April 2023 – September 2024, Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
17. August 2025 – present, Air Force Civil Engineer Center Senior Enlisted Leader, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, 36th Mission Support Group Detachment 1
2015 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 100th Air Refueling Wing
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron
2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron
2019 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 97th Air Mobility Wing
2020 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Air Force Association Chapter 342
(Current as of November 2025)