Bud Andrews was born on March 9, 1934, in Boston, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on January 28, 1953, and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, New York, in March 1953. After completing training as an air policeman, Sgt Andrews served as an air policeman at Keesler AFB, Mississippi; at Sheppard AFB, Texas; in French Morocco; and then at Travis AFB, California, before leaving active duty and joining the Air Force Reserve on January 27, 1957. He reenlisted in the Air Force on April 21, 1958, and then served as an air policeman with the 823rd Air Base Group at Homestead AFB, Florida, from April to July 1958. His next assignment was as an air policeman with the 6431st Air Police Squadron at Naha AB, Okinawa, from July 1958 to 1960, followed by service as an air policeman with the 837th Air Police Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from 1960 to 1961. Sgt Andrews served as an air police investigator with the 6313th and then the 824th Air Police Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from 1961 to April 1965, and then as an air policeman with the 4756th Air Police Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from April 1965 to January 1967. His next assignment was as First Sergeant of the 4756th Transportation Squadron at Tyndall AFB from January to December 1967, followed by service as First Sergeant of the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1967 to November 1968. He served as First Sergeant of Detachment 5 of the 3345th Technical School with the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, from January 1969 to January 1971, and then as First Sergeant of the 483rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, from January to November 1971. SMSgt Andrews next served as First Sergeant of the 3392nd Student Squadron at Keesler AFB from December 1971 to December 1973, followed by service as First Sergeant of the 6594th Test Group at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from January 1974 to December 1975. He served as First Sergeant of the 3245th Air Base Group and as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Electronic Systems Division for Air Force Systems Command at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, from January 1976 to July 1978, and then as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander of Air Force Systems Command at Andrews AFB, Maryland, from July 1978 to July 1981. CMSgt Andrews' final assignment was as the 7th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from August 1, 1981, until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1983. Bud Andrews died on October 26, 1996, and was buried at the Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

His Legion of Merit Citation reads:

Chief Master Sergeant Arthur L. Andrews distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia, from 1 August 1981 to 31 July 1983. During this period Chief Andrews was the spokesman for the entire enlisted force while serving as the chief enlisted representative to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force. The actions instituted by Chief Andrews were instrumental in improving the quality of the enlisted force and thereby increasing the readiness of the entire Air Force. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Chief Andrews culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.