CMSgt Joshua D. Sanders is the Senior Enlisted Airman for Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. In this capacity, he is the principle and strategic advisor to the Delta Commander overseeing matters impacting the 3,700 Airmen, Guardians, and civilians assigned. Furthermore, he is responsible for the effective utilization, training, and professional development of personnel across 13 squadrons and 19 Delta Staff Agencies, ensuring mission readiness and effectiveness. Chief Sanders also ensures the execution of health, morale, and welfare programs in support of more than 18,500 total force personnel, families, and retirees. Chief Sanders hails from Montgomery, Alabama. He enlisted in the Air Force in July 2001 and graduated from the Personnel Apprentice course in November 2001. Throughout his 25 years on active duty, he has held diverse leadership roles at the Squadron, Group, Wing, and Major Command levels.
In 2017, he retrained as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot, becoming one of the first 50 Enlisted Pilots in the USAF since WWII. He has 100 flight hours, 50 of which are combat hours. He has deployed on two Joint Expeditionary Taskings in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and one AEF deployment in support of Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT. Prior to his current position, he was the Space Base Delta 3, Senior Enlisted Leader, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.
EDUCATION
2001 Personnel Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2003 Associate of Applied Science, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2004 USAF Airman Leadership School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
2007 Joint Senior Enlisted Professional Military Education Course by correspondence
2008 USAF Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2012 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Course 14 by correspondence
2012 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2013 Master of Science, Human Resource Management, Troy University, Ala.
2017 Undergraduate RPA Training, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
2018 RQ-4B Initial Qualification Training, Beale AFB, Calif.
2019 RQ-4B Mission Qualification Training, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
2021 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Associate of Applied Science, Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2022 Inspector General’s Training Course-Inspections, DAF Inspections Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2023 Group Command Team Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2023 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Air Force Judge Advocate School, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2025 Joint Professional Military Education I by correspondence
2025 Joint Professional Military Education II by correspondence
2025 Space Executive Course, National Security Space Institute, Peterson SFB, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 2001 – September 2001, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. September 2001 – November 2001, Personnel Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. November 2001 – May 2003, Commander’s Support Staff (CSS) Technician, Air Force Command and Control Training and Innovation Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. May 2003 – January 2004, CSS Technician, 505th Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. January 2004 – June 2005, Customer Service Representative, 42nd Mission Support Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. June 2005 – January 2006, NCOIC, Enlisted Promotions, 42nd Mission Support Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. January 2006 – June 2007, NCOIC, CSS, 42nd Mission Support Group, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 2007 – July 2010, NCOIC, CSS, DATA MASKED (March 2010 – May 2010, J1 Travel NCOIC, Joint Task Force, Balad Iraq)
9. July 2010 – January 2011, Superintendent, CSS, DATA MASKED
10. January 2011 – September 2012, Superintendent, Support Flight, DATA MASKED
11. September 2012 – March 2015, Superintendent, Military Personnel Branch, USAFE-AFAFRICA/A1, Ramstein Air Base (AB), Germany (February 2014 – September 2014, Superintendent, Combined Manpower Coordination Cell, USFOR-A, Kabul Afghanistan)
12. March 2015 – September 2015, Superintendent, Military Personnel Flight (MPF), 786th Force Support Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. September 2015 – July 2016, Superintendent, Manpower and Personnel Flight, 90th Force Support Squadron, Francis Emory Warren AFB, Wyo.
14. July 2016 – January 2018, Squadron Superintendent, 90th Force Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.(February – September 2017, PERSCO Team Chief, 455 AEW, Bagram Afghanistan)
15. January 2018 – July 2019, Superintendent, MPF, 90th Force Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
16. July 2019 – January 2020, RQ-4 Mission Commander, 348th Reconnaissance Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
17. January 2020 – June 2020, Assistant Squadron Superintendent/RQ-4 Mission Commander, 348th Reconnaissance Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
18. June 2020 – June 2021, Squadron Superintendent, 319th Operations Support Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
19. June 2021 – May 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 348th Reconnaissance Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
20. May 2022 –August 2024, 5th Bomb Wing Inspector General Superintendent & Wing Staff Agencies SEL, Minot AFB, N.D. (February 2023 – April 2023, Interim SEL, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.)
21. August 2024 – April 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Base Delta 3, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
22. April 2026 – Present, Senior Enlisted Airman, Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg SFB, CA.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: RPA Pilot
Flight hours: 100 hours, including 50 combat hours
Aircraft flown: RQ/EQ-4B, DA-20, T-6 (simulator), MQ-9 (simulator)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 BMT Honor Graduate
2001 Personnel Apprentice Course Distinguished Graduate
2002 505 OS Airman of the Year
2003 42 MSS Airman of the Year
2004 42 MSS Airman of the Year
2004 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2006 AFSA CMSAF Award
2007 DATA MASKED Support NCO of the Year
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2008 DATA MASKED Personnel Manager of the Year
2009 DATA MASKED Support NCO of the Year
2010 DATA MASKED Lance P. Sijan nominee 2010 HHQ Personnel Manager of the Year
2011 DATA MASKED Force Support SNCO of the Year
2015 786 FSS Lance P. Sijan nominee
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant Jan. 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2026)