Air Force, Space Force select 520 for chief master sergeant

Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Stellabotte, 86th Dental Squadron dental operations superintendent, receives congratulations from his colleagues after being selected for promotion to the rank of chief in 2018. The Air Force and Space Force have selected 520 E-8s for promotion to chief master sergeant. (Airman 1st Class Joshua Magbanua/Air Force)

The Air Force said Monday it has chosen 518 airmen for promotion to chief master sergeant.

And in a first, the Space Force also selected two of its senior master sergeants for promotion to E-9.

The Air Force considered 2,763 senior master sergeants for promotion in the 20E9 cycle, resulting in a selection rate of 18.75 percent. That is lower than the 20.96 percent selection rate for E-9 the Air Force recorded last year.

And the Space Force had eight senior master sergeants eligible for promotion, resulting in a 25 percent selection rate.

The Department of the Air Force will post the promotion lists online the morning of Dec. 8.

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.