Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi speaks to an audience at the annual Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium on Nov. 1, 2024. Flosi, the service's top enlisted leader, announced his retirement from active duty in an email on Monday, less than a month after the death of his wife, Katy. (Dalton Williams/U.S. Air Force)
The Air Force’s top enlisted leader is leaving the active-duty military less than two years into his stint in the post, a move that caps off a career spanning nearly three decades.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi announced in an email Monday that he will “change the capacity” in which he serves. The decision comes just weeks after the death of his wife, Katy.
Stars and Stripes received confirmation Wednesday of the message’s authenticity from Ann Stefanek, the Air Force’s chief of current operations.
“I am retiring from my active-duty service to ensure I take care of our family and learn to live with Katy in a new way, to continue to honor her as I should,” Flosi wrote in the message, which circulated widely in military-related social media forums.
Katy Flosi died Sept. 20. In a statement issued four days later, Flosi said her death was due to medical complications.
“Our family is heartbroken,” Flosi’s earlier statement said. “We will heal, and I appreciate your kindness as we do.”
The email Flosi sent Monday did not specify when he plans to officially hang up the boots.
But President Donald Trump recently nominated Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach to succeed Allen as the Air Force’s top general, and it’s common for incoming service chiefs to select new enlisted leaders once they’re confirmed.
“While my active-duty service comes to end, I look forward to serving you in the years to come,” Flosi wrote.
Flosi began his enlisted career in 1996 as a nuclear weapons specialist. He deployed in support of missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, among others, before earning the rank of chief master sergeant in August 2015, according to his official biography.
Appointed to his current position by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allen, Flosi became the service’s 20th senior enlisted leader on Dec. 11, 2023.
Since assuming the role, Flosi has introduced updates to Air Force standards for physical fitness, dress and appearance and has been a vocal advocate for airmen affected by military move delays stemming from budget constraints.
He also used social media frequently to share key updates and engage directly with the force.
