COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT MICHAEL J. HERRERA
Chief Master Sgt. Michael J. Herrera is the Wing Command Chief for the 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Chief Herrera serves as the primary adviser to the Wing Commander on readiness, training, education, and equipping of the enlisted force. The 150th SOW provides support to four Major Commands, training aircrew on HC-130J and HH-60G/W, along with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, agile combat support, cyber, air base ground defense, and emergency medical services.
Chief Herrera entered the New Mexico Air National Guard on June 13, 2003 and served as an F-16 Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist. In 2011 Chief Herrera accepted a cross-training opportunity into the Targeting Intelligence career field at the 250th Intelligence Squadron where he held positions as the Operations Superintendent, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of Training, Advanced Target Development Flight Chief, and NCOIC of Stan/Eval. After a staff tour at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Chief Herrera returned to the 250 IS as the Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader. Chief Herrera has deployed on numerous operations and exercises throughout the world, to include Sentry Aloha, Sentry Strike, numerous Defense System Evaluation support missions, Red Flag, Green Flag as well as deployed in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
2003 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2003 Aircraft Armament Technical School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Airman Leadership Course, by correspondence.
2008 Aircraft Armament 7 level Technical School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2009 NCO Leadership Course, by correspondence.
2012 Geospatial Intelligence Targeting Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2012 Precise Point Positioning Mensuration Course, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2013 Instructor Certification Program, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2014 JWS Instructor Certification Program, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2015 Senior NCO Academy, Correspondence
2019 Bachelor Liberal Arts with concentration in Education, University of Eastern New Mexico
2022 USSF Space Executive Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2023 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, JBA, Md.
2024 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Air University, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003 - August 2003, STUDENT, Basic Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 2003 - January 2004, STUDENT, Aircraft Armament Systems School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. January 2004 - August 2005, WEAPONS LOADER, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. August 2005 - October 2007, LOAD STANDARDIZATION CREW, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. October 2007 - December 2007, WEAPONS CREW CHIEF, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad AB, Iraq
6. January 2008 - July 2011, LOAD STANDARDIZATION CREW CHIEF, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. July 2011 - January 2012, STUDENT, Geospatial Intelligence Targeting School, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
8. January 2012 - April 2012, TARGETEER, 20th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. April 2012 - April 2014, OPERATIONS TRAINING NCOIC, 150th Wing, Detachment 2, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. April 2014 - June 2016, STANDARDS AND EVALUATIONS NCOIC, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11. June 2016 - July 2018, WEAPONEERING FLIGHT CHIEF, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. July 2018 - August 2019, ANCILLARY TRAINING MANAGER, ANGRC/A1D, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
13. August 2019 - January 2020, WEAPONS AND TACTICS NCOIC, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. January 2020 - July 2021, OPERATIONS SUPERINTENDENT, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
15. July 2021 – January 2025, SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER, 250th Intelligence Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
16. February 2025-Present, WING COMMAND CHIEF, 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal with service star
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air and Space Longevity Service award with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device and “M” device
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Air Combat Command, Outstanding Air Reserve Component Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance NCO of the Year
2017 New Mexico State, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Permanent member, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant January 12, 2022
(Current as of February 2025)