Chief Master Sergeant RYAN M. DAWSON CMSgt Ryan Dawson is the Senior Enlisted Leader for Space Delta 1, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. He advises the Delta 1 Commander, two squadron commanders and five detachments on all matters regarding enlisted, officer, and civilian accessions training, to include basic military training, Enlisted initial skills training, all Space Force commissioning sources, Officer training Course, and the Civilian training course, while driving Guardian culture across all Space Force specialties. CMSgt Dawson also oversees morale, welfare, and organizational climate, as well as professional and personal development of 400+ personnel assigned across seven units, which includes units located in California, Colorado, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. He also monitors student dormitory, and temporary living conditions and coordinates local host base and garrison support units to assist in obtaining quality living and working conditions for all assigned space professionals, which includes 2,900+ students per year. Chief Dawson grew up in Columbus, Ohio and enlisted in the Army in May 2001 and has a diverse training background. He has held a variety of operational, broadening, and leadership positions across multiple military occupational specialties. Chief Dawson served as the First Sergeant for HQ, 53rd Signal Battalion and First Sergeant for HQ, U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade during his final assignment in the U.S. Army. He previously deployed with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM campaigns SOVREIGNTY and NEW DAWN. Chief Dawson transferred from the Army to the Space Force in August 2022, and served as the first ever Senior Enlisted Leader for the Current Operations Division, Headquarters Space Force, (HQ USSF/S33) He also served as the Manager, Enlisted Force Development and the Space Force’s first ever Special Duty Manager, at Space Force Headquarters, Force Development/S1D, Pentagon, Washington D.C. He previously served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of 2nd intelligence Analysis Squadron, National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC) Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. EDUCATION 2009 Warrior Leaders Course, Ft. Stewart, GA 2012 Advanced Leaders Course, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 2017 Senior Leaders Course, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 2021 Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, DL 2024 Associate in Arts Degree, Interdisciplinary Studies, American Military University, Charlestown, WV ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. August 2001 – October 2001, Trainee, Basic Combat Training, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 2. November 2001 – February 2002, Student, Food Service Specialist, Ft. Gregg-Adams, VA 3. March 2002 – May 2002, Student, Nutrition Care Specialist, Joint Base San Antonio, TX 4. May 2002 – April 2004, Nutrition Care Specialist, 914th Combat Support Hospital, Blacklick, OH 5. April 2004 – May 2005, Nutrition Care Specialist, 28th Combat Support Hospital, Ft. Liberty, NC 6. May 2005 – January 2008, Nutrition Care Specialist, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany 7. January 2008 – October 2008, Student, HQ/A co. 551st Signal Battalion, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 8. October 2008 – February 2011, Sr. Satellite Systems Operator/Maintainer, Ft. Stewart, GA 9. February 2011 – February 2013, Instructor, HQ/A co. 551st Signal Battalion, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 10. February 2013 – February 2014, Platoon Sergeant, HQ/A co. 551st Signal Battalion, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 11. February 2014 – May 2016, Command Driver, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, Ft. Eisenhower, GA 12. May 2016 – August 2018, SATCOM Operations NCO, D co. 53rd Signal Battalion, Wahiawa, HI 13. August 2018 – August 2019, Battalion SATCOM Operations NCO, HQ co. 53rd Signal Battalion, Ft. Carson, CO 14. August 2019 – January 2022, First Sergeant, HQ co. U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade, Peterson SFB, CO 15. January 2022 – August 2022, First Sergeant, HQ co. 53rd Signal Battalion, Ft. Carson, CO 16. September 2022 – September 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, Headquarters Space Force OCSO/COO/S33, Pentagon, D.C. 17. October 2023 – July 2024, Manager, Enlisted Force Development, Headquarters Space Force S1D, Pentagon, D.C. 18. July 2024 – June 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 2nd Intelligence Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 19. June 2025 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Delta 1, Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf cluster Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf cluster Army Achievement Medal with twelve oak leaf cluster OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2009 Commandant’s List, Warrior Leaders Course, Ft. Stewart, Ga 2017 Commandant’s List, Senior Leaders Course, Ft. Eisenhower, Ga 2018 Bronze Order of Mercury Inductee, 7256 2021 Distinguished Graduate, AFSNCO Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Al OCCUPATIONAL BADGES Space Staff Identification Badge Master Space Operations Badge Expert Field Medical Badge Wheeled Drivers Badge German Marksmanship Badge (Gold) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS Association of the US Army US Army Signal Corps Regimental Association Space Force Association (Current as of August 2026)