AF selects 5 Sheppard Airmen for promotion to E-9 Published Dec. 7, 2017 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Five Sheppard Air Force Base senior master sergeants will be among the top 1 percent of the enlisted ranks after they were selected for promotion to chief master sergeant. The following were selected for promotion: Senior Master Sgt. Gregory Cross, Senior NCO Academy; Senior Master Sgt. John Grogan III, 82nd Contracting Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. David Keirns, 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 1; Senior Master Sgt. Frank Pulice, 366th Training Squadron; and Senior Master Sgt. Donald Valentine, 82nd Communications Squadron. The Air Force Chief Evaluation Board selected 472 E-8s for promotion to E-9 out a 2,142 eligible candidates. The selection rate for the 17E9 Promotion Cycle was 22.04 percent. Promotions will begin Jan. 1.