Thomas N. Barnes, CMSgt USAF (ret.) (November 16, 1930 – March 17, 2003) was the fourth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the first and to date only African-American in that position. He was also the first African-American Senior Enlisted Advisor in any of the Armed Forces of the United States. CMSAF Barnes served as Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from October 1973 to July 1977. He was key in bringing many African-American related issues to the attention of senior military leaders. He died from cancer in Sherman, Texas where he had been undergoing treatment.