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CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JACOB C. SIMMONS

Command Senior Enlisted Leader

Chief Master Sergeant Jacob “Jake” Simmons is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for United States Space Command at Peterson Space Force Base Colorado. U.S. Space Command is the Unified Combatant Command responsible for conducting operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force, and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners.

As Command Senior Enlisted Leader, he advises the commander on mission effectiveness, professional development, and military readiness and training of all assigned and attached space forces enabling the preparation, generation, and sustainment of combat-ready intelligence, cyber, space and combat support forces. Additionally, he advises the commander on matters influencing the health, welfare, morale and effective utilization of more than 18,000 assigned and attached professionals, presenting, preserving, and projecting space power around the globe.

Chief Simmons entered the Air Force on May 1, 1992. He has served in leadership positions at squadron, group, wing, major command and Air Staff, as well as joint and multi-national duties in United States Space Command, United States Southern Command, United States Strategic Command, and North American Aerospace Defense Command. On September 1, 2020, he transferred to the Space Force.

Chief Simmons has an extensive background in leveraging tactical to strategic space capabilities and effects, and significant human capital leadership and military installation operations experience. His range and depth of aerospace expertise includes: Global Missile Warning and Homeland Defense, Space Domain Awareness, Space Electronic Warfare, Military Satellite Communications, Global Positioning System, Operational Test and Evaluation, formal education and training, Aerospace Control and Warning Systems Drug Interdiction and Range Control operations, and manpower and assignment management.

EDUCATION
1992 Aerospace Control and Warning Systems Initial Qualification Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
1995 Joint Maritime Command Information System, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia
1997 Enlisted Space Operations Training, Vandenberg AFB, California
1997 Defense Support Program Training, Vandenberg AFB, California
2000 Space-Based Infrared Systems Commander Training, Vandenberg AFB, California
2000 Global Awareness Test Manager Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado
2000 Air Force Satellite Control Network Course, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2003 Defense Satellite Communication System Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, California
2004 Advanced Space Operations School, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2005 Space Studies Certification, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2006 Associates of Applied Science, Air & Space Ops Technology, CCAF
2006 Space 300, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2007 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Correspondence
2010 Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Naval Justice School, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia
2011 Global Positioning System Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, California
2014 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Correspondence, Air University
2015 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Randolph AFB, Texas
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, Correspondence
2016 Air Force Judge Advocate General Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2016 Air Force Smart Operations Executive Leadership Course, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee
2016 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Fagler Business School, University of North Carolina
2018 Keystone Course, National Defense University, Washington DC
2018 Leading Millennials, Owen Graduate School, Vanderbilt University
2019 Leading Strategically, The Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2020 Design Thinking Bootcamp, Stanford University

ASSIGNMENTS
1.May 1992-June 1992, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2.June 1992-August 1992, Student, Aerospace Control & Warning Systems (AC&WS), Keesler AFB, Mississippi
3.August 1992-August 1993, AC&WS Technician, 554th Range Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
4.August 1993-May 1997, NCOIC, Ops Training Flight, 24th Air Support Ops Squadron, Howard AFB, Panama
5.May 1997-July 2000, Data/Ground Systems/Flight Chief, 2d Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado
6.July 2000-August 2002, Effectiveness Test Manager, 17th Test Squadron/AFOTEC, Buckley AFB, Colorado
7.August 2002-October 2005, Flight Chief, Operations, 3d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado
8.October 2005-November 2006, Flight Chief, Training & Eval, 50th Ops Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado
9.November 2006-June 2007, Manager, Defensive Space Control Systems, HQ AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colorado
10.June 2007-November 2007, Manager, Space Superiority Operations, HQ AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colorado
11.November 2007-April 2008, J3 Superintendent, Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colorado
12.April 2008-April 2011, Superintendent, JFCC Space Missile Warning Center, Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colorado
13.April 2011-May 2012, Operations Superintendent, 50 Operations Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado
14.June 2012-August 2014, Chief, Space Prof Dev & 1C6 Functional Manager, HQ AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colorado
15.August 2014-June 2016, 1C6X1 Career Field Manager, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
16. June 2016-May 2018, Command Chief, 461st Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Georgia
17.June 2018-July 2020, Command Chief, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colorado
18.July 2020-January 2021, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Joint Task Force–Space Defense and Senior Enlisted Leader, Operations Directorate, United States Space Command, Peterson-Schriever Garrison, Colorado
19.July 2020-April 2022, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Joint Task Force–Space Defense, Schriever SFB, Colorado
20.April 2022-August 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado
21.August 2023-Present, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 24th Air Support Operations Squadron Airman of the Year
1996 Commandant Award, Airman Leadership School
2001 Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Noncommissioned Officer Augmentee of the Year
2002 Commandant Award and Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2004 3d Space Operations Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2004 50th Operations Group Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2005 50th Operations Support Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2005 50th Operations Group General Morrell Trophy
2005 Air Force Association, Brent C. Scowcroft Award
2006 Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Enlisted Space Operator of the Year
2007 Commandant Award and Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2008 Joint Functional Component Command for Space Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2008 United States Strategic Command Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year
2009 Missile Warning Center Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2009 United States Strategic Command Senior Noncommissioned Officer Enlisted Space Operator of the Year
2010 Joint Functional Component Command for Space Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year
2010 Joint Functional Component Command for Space Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Global Positioning System Initial Qualification Training

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic May 1, 1992
Airman November 1, 1992
Airman First Class September 1, 1993
Senior Airman November 1, 1994
Staff Sergeant August 1, 1997
Technical Sergeant July 1, 2001
Master Sergeant July 1, 2004
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2008
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2012

Current as of May 2024