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Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Manuel Zubia

Chief Master Sergeant Manuel R. Zubia is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 919th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He is the senior enlisted leader for the Citizen Air Commandos of the Air Force Reserve Command’s only Special Operations Wing. He advises the commander on all matters pertaining to the health, morale, welfare, professional development, training, and effective management of over 1,700 Airmen. The 919th Special Operation Wing supports the Air Force Special Operations Command with trained Citizen Air Commandos to perform the Air Force’s Expeditionary Combat Support mission and Non-Standard Aviation program utilizing C-145A, C-146A, C-208, and partner nation aircraft. Airmen assigned to Duke Field conduct flight instruction and deploy as required in the U-28, AC-130U, MC-130H, C-145A, C-146A, and PC-12 aircraft. The wing also employs the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft conducting combat air patrols in support of combatant commanders across the globe.


Chief Zubia enlisted in the Air Force in February of 1997 and attended Aircraft Armament Systems School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. He served on Active Duty for 12 years with 4 years in Armament before cross training into Personnel. In 2008, he left Active Duty for the Air Force Reserve serving in a variety of Personnel related positions at both the Wing and Headquarters levels. Throughout his career, he has served as a Traditional Reservist, Air Reserve Technician, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, and as an Active Guard Reserve fulfilling numerous roles in the Personnel career field.


Prior to his current position, he served as the Chief Enlisted Manager of the Manpower, Personnel, and Services Directorate, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.


EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2002 Associate Degree, Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2003 Associate Degree, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2006 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, Lubbock, Texas
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2011 Master of Business Administration, Project Management, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2011 Project Management Professional Certification, Project Management Institute, Philadelphia Pa.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2012 US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, Petaluma, Calif.
2016 Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor College of Financial Planning, Centennial, Colo.
2017 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course I, Suffolk Va, by correspondence
2019 Master of Science, Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia, Athens
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II, Suffolk Va, by correspondence
2020 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Air Force Organizational Change Management Practitioner Course, Arlington Va.
2022 Executive Leadership Program in Managing for Inclusion, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.


ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 1997 – May 1997, Weapons Load Crew Member, 62 Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2. May 1997 – Aug 2000, Squadron Lead Crew Team Member, 56 Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. Aug 2000 – May 2001, Decorations Technician, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. May 2001 – Feb 2003, Commander Support Staff Apprentice, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. Feb 2003 – Dec 2004, Personnel Systems Management Technician, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. Dec 2004 – Dec 2008, NCOIC, Personnel, Texas Tech University AFROTC, Lubbock, Texas
7. Dec 2008 – Aug 2009, Assistant Chief of Employment, 944 Force Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. Aug 2009 – Oct 2009, NCOIC, Total Force Support Center Project Manager, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
9. Oct 2009 – Aug 2011, Enlisted Exec to the Commander, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
10. Aug 2011 – May 2012, NCOIC, Program Management Office, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
11. May 2012 – Oct 2014, NCOIC, Performance Management, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
12. Oct 2014 – Aug 2018, IMA to the Records Management Superintendent, National Personnel Records Center, St Louis, Mo.
13. Aug 2018 – Jul 2020, Superintendent, 94 Force Support Squadron, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
14. Jul 2020 – Oct 2022, A1 Chief Enlisted Manager, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga
15. Oct 2022 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.


MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster


OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2022 AFRC General Billy J. Boles Mentorship Award
2010 AFRC Lance P. Sijan US Air Force Leadership Award
2010 AFRC A1 Force Support NCO of the Year
2012 US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy Fitness Award


EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2018


(Current as of November 2022)