Chief Master Sergeant Jay Harris serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. He is the principal advisor to the installation commander on all matters affecting the readiness and professional development of 3,700 total force personnel within the Delta's 12 squadrons and 19 staff agencies. In addition, he provides oversight for installation health, morale, welfare, and medical programs in support of 18 tenant units and 36 partner agencies, as well as more than 18,500 total force personnel, families, and retirees. Further, he advises the commander on utilization of $16.5B in launch and range resources within the 118,000-acre installation, enabling global missile defense testing/operations and assured access to space for the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and commercial launch partners.
Chief Harris enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in 1995 and subsequently into the U.S. Space Force in 2020. He has significant joint service experience and has
participated in multiple operations and exercises.
Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Harris served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado (ADF-C) and Delta 20 at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1995 Enlisted Space Operations Initial Qualification Training (IQT) Technical Course, Vandenberg AFB, CA
1999 Airman Leadership School, F.E. Warren AFB, WY
2002 Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) IQT, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2004 Associate of Applied Science in Air and Space Operations, Community College of the Air Force, AL
2005 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGuire AFB, NJ
2005 Space Professional 200 Course, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, CO
2009 Space Professional 300 Course, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, CO
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I via correspondence Course, Joint Knowledge Online
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, AL
2012 Professional Management Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Bachelor of Science in Strategic Leadership, Southwestern College, Winfield, KS
2014 Associate of Applied Science in Information Management, Community College of the Air Force, AL
2014 Cyberspace Superintendent Course via correspondence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Seminar, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
2017 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Curtis E. Lemay Center, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Command Chief Master Sergeant Candidate Symposium, Andrews Air Base, MD
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II via correspondence, Joint Knowledge Online
2019 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
2019 Master of Science in Org Development & Leadership, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Feb 1995 – Apr 1995, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. Apr 1995 – Jun 1995, Student, Space Operations IQT, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
3. Jun 1995 – Aug 1995, Student, PAVE PAWS IQT, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
4. Aug 1995 – Aug 1998, Space Console Operator, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod AFS, MA
5. Aug 1998 – Jun 1999, Data Systems Operator, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
6. Jun 1999 – Mar 2001, Mission Crew Chief, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
7. Mar 2001 – Aug 2002, Lead Ground Systems Instructor, 2d Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
8. Aug 2002 – Oct 2002, Student, BMEWS IQT, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
9. Oct 2002 – Oct 2003, Evaluation Specialist, 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland
10. Oct 2003 – Oct 2005, NCOIC, Weapons & Tactics, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod AFS, MA
11. Oct 2005 – Oct 2009, NCOIC, Missile Warning & Defense, Training & Evals, USPACOM/J3, Camp Smith, HI
12. Mar 2009 – Aug 2011, NAF Program Manager, Range and Spacelift Operations, 14 AF/A3, Vandenberg AFB, CA
13. Aug 2011 – May 2013, Squadron Superintendent, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA
14. May 2013 – Apr 2015, Flight Chief, Plans & Prgms, 52nd Communications Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany Nov 2014 – Jan 2015, Superintendent, Postal Ops, 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Dakar ISB, Senegal
15. Apr 2015 – Aug 2016, Squadron Superintendent, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO
16. Aug 2016 – Sep 2018, Group Superintendent, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV Feb 2018 – Aug 2018, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Cadre Task Force, Peterson AFB, CO
17. Sep 2018 – Jun 2020, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
18. Jul 2020 – Jul 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, ADF-East and Space Delta 21, Fort Belvoir, VA
19. Aug 2021 – Aug 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, ADF-C and Space Delta 20, Buckley SFB, CO
20. Aug 2023 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, SLD 30, Vandenberg SFB, CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Air Force Sergeants Association (Lifetime Member) Air Force Association (Lifetime Member)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Senior Airmen “Below-the Zone”
1999 “Distinguished Graduate” Airman Leadership School
2002 “NCO of the Year” 12th Space Warning Squadron, 21st Operations Group & Thule Air Base 2007 “Enlisted Person of the Year” NCO Category, US Pacific Command
2008 “SNCO of the Year” HQ US Pacific Command Air Force Element 2009 “SNCO of the Year” HQ 14th Air Force
2011 “SNCO of the Year” 533rd Training Squadron
2012 “SNCO of the Year” Vandenberg AFB & Second Air Force
2013 “Magna cum Laude” Graduate, Bachelor of Science in Strategic Leadership
2019 “Summa cum Laude” Graduate, Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant 1 July 2015
(Bio Current as of Aug 2023.)