Chief Master Sergeant Shannan K. Sanchez Enlisted Leader for Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. She is the principal advisor to the installation commander on all matters affecting the readiness and professional development of 3700+ personnel within the Delta’s 12 squadrons and 19 staff agencies. In addition, she 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 11,000 total force personnel, families, and retirees. Further, she advises the commander on utilization of $12.3B 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. CMSgt Sanchez was on the second Sister Service tranche list to transfer into the United States Space Force.
CMSgt Sanchez is originally from Montana and entered the military in 1998. She has over 27 years’ experience in the military and 10 in varied space disciplines. Her assignments include over 10 years overseas and 3.5 years of combat deployments. She is married to Eddie Sanchez, and they have five children - three daughters, Zoe (24), Eva (6y), & Rhys (4y), and two sons – Aydan (20) & Keanu (2y).
EDUCATION
1998 Basic Combat Training, Fort Jackson, SC
1998 Microwave Systems Operator/ Maintainer, Fort Gordon, GA (MOS 25P) 1999 Combat Life Saver Course, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea
2001 Basic Leaders Course PME – Commandant’s List, Fort Knox, KY
2005 Advance Leader Course PME – Distinguished Honor Graduate, Fort Gordon, GA 2007 Senior Leader Course PME - Commandant’s List, Fort Gordon, GA
2007 Battle Staff NCO Course - Commandant’s List, Fort Bliss, TX
2009 Associates of Arts, Criminal Justice, University of Maryland University College
2010 Bachelor of Science, Investigative Forensics, University of Maryland University College 2011 EO Leader Course, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
2011 Combatives Level 1, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait 2012 Combatives Level 2, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
2012 Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention w/ NOVA certification, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait 2012 Contracting Officer Representative Course, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
2012 Cadre Training Course, Fort Gordon, GA
2012 Basic Instructor Training Course, Fort Gordon, GA
2013 SATCOM Electromagnetic Interference Fundamentals Course, Peterson AFB, CO 2014 Military Deception Planners Course, Peterson AFB, CO
2015 Master of Arts, Criminal Justice – w/ Honors, American Military University 2015 US Army Special Technical Operations Planners Course, Peterson AFB, CO 2016 Company Commander and First Sergeant Course, Fort Carson, CO
2017 Space 200, Peterson AFB, CO
2019 Space 300, Peterson AFB, CO
2023 US Army Sergeants Major Academy – Commandant’s List, Fort Bliss, TX
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. September 1998 – November 1998, Basic Combat Training, Fort Jackson, SC
2. November 1998 – August 1999, Microwave Systems Operator/ Maintainer (MOS 25P), Fort Gordon, GA
3. August 1999 – August 2000, Microwave Systems Operator/ Maintainer; 552d Signal Co, 1st Signal BDE, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea
4. August 2000 – May 2003, Station Tech Controller, Tech Control Supervisor, Watch Officer; 1111th Signal BN, 1108th Signal BDE, Fort Detrick, MD
5. May 2003 – October 2004, Microwave Systems Operator/ Maintainer, IVSN/NCN Tech (FWD Deployed TU); NATO Joint Command Southeast, Izmir, Turkey
6. October 2004 – October 2007, Circuit Control Team Chief, Operations NCO, Circuit Activations NCO; 114th Signal BN, 21st Signal BDE, Fort Detrick, MD
7. October 2007 – June 2011, Crystal NCOIC, Crystal Det Branch Chief, Vice Presidential Communications Officer; White House Communications Agency, Camp David, MD
8. June 2011 – June 2012, Microwave Systems Engineer (FWD Deployed KU); 335th Signal Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
9. June 2012 – April 2013, NCOIC of Advanced Individual Training Microwave Systems Operator/ Maintainer School House; A Co, 551st Signal BN, 15th Signal BDE, Fort Gordon, GA
10. April 2013 – August 2013, Detachment Sergeant; 4th Space Co, 1st Space BN, 1st Space BDE, Peterson AFB, CO
11. August 2013 – April 2014, Detachment Sergeant (FWD Deployed KU); 4th Space Co, 1st Space BN, 1st Space BDE, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
12. April 2014 – July 2015, Battalion S3 Operation NCOIC; 1st Space BN, 1st Space BDE, Peterson AFB, CO
13. July 2015 – August 2017, First Sergeant; 2d Space Co, 1st Space BN, 1st Space BDE, Peterson AFB, CO
14. August 2017 – August 2020, First Sergeant; D Co, 53rd Sig BN, Space and Missile Defense Command, Wahiawa, HI
15. August 2020 – April 2022, Computer Network Defense Manager, Theater Operations NCOIC; US Army Regional Cyber Center – Pacific, Fort Shafter, HI
16. April 2022 – July 2022, First Sergeant; D Co, 53rd Sig BN, Space and Missile Defense Command, Wahiawa, HI
17. July 2022 – October 2023 Senior Enlisted Leader Delta Det; 53d Space Operations Squadron, Wahiawa, HI
18. October 2023 – July 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader. Space Delta 5, Vandenberg SFB, CA
19. July 2025 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader. Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg SFB, CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award) Meritorious Service Medal (5th award)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air & Space Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (4th award) Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air & Space Force Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal (8th award) Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award) Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award) Meritorious Service Medal (5th award)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air & Space Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (4th award) Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air & Space Force Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal (8th award) Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award) Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 552nd Signal Co Soldier of the Month
2000 41st Signal BN Soldier of the 3rd Quarter
2001 1111th Signal BN NCO of the 2nd Quarter
2001 1108th Signal BDE NCO of the 3rd Quarter
2001 1108th Signal BDE NCO of the Year
2002 Fort Detrick NCO of the 2nd Quarter
2003 US Army NATO JCSE NCO of the 3rd Quarter
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Presidential Service Badge Master Space Badge Master Cyber Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Private 2 16 Mar 1999
Private First Class 1 Oct 1999
Specialist 1 Jun 2000
Sergeant 2 Feb 2001
Staff Sergeant 1 Mar 2003
Sergeant First Class 1 Feb 2007
Senior Master Sergeant 1 Jun 2016
Chief Master Sergeant 1 Jan 2023
(CURRENT AS OF SEPTEMBER 2025)