CMSgt Jessica J. Almanza is the Senior Enlisted Leader at Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization, Detachment 3, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As the Senior Enlisted Leader, she advises active component commanders on accountability, readiness and provides personnel and administrative oversight for more than 1,200 assigned Individual Reservists across 33 locations. She leads a team of personnelist who are conduit for active component stakeholders on matters relating to accessions, retirements, and various personnel program support to the Individual Reservists.
Chief Almanza’s military career began in the U.S. Army in 1996 and she entered the Air Force Reserve in February 2001. She graduated from Personnel Apprentice Course in April 2001 and has served in various statuses. She spent six years as a Traditional Reservist and Air Reserve Technician. She was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In 2006, she transitioned to Active Guard Reserve status for the Readiness Management Group as a Base Individual Mobilization Augmentees Administrator for 10 years. She served as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee for Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado where she then transitioned into the Active Guard Reserve program at Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization, Buckley Space Force, Colorado. In this new role as Superintendent of Readiness and Training, she managed readiness and real-world accountability for more than 7,000 Individual Reservists compromised of nine Combatant Commands, 53 Major Commands and 38 Department of Defense Agencies.
Prior to assuming her current position, CMSgt Almanza was the Manager of Individual Reservists Operations, Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization, Detachment 3 Operating Location, Barksdale AFB, LA. She assisted active component commanders and Unit Reserve Coordinators with managing and directing personnel resource programs an interpreting and enforcing policies and directives servicing over 300 Individual Mobilization Augmentees. She was response for personnel and manpower matters of the reservist assigned to U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Global Strike.
EDUCATION
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Course
2018 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2017 AFRC Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Robins AFB, Ga
2016 Air Force Reserve Chief Orientation Course, Robins AFB, Ga
2011 Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Course
2009 Human Resources Management, Community College of the Air Force
2008 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo
2002 Airman Leadership School, Hill AFB, Utah
2001 Personnel Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997 – February 1997, Student, Basic Military Training, Ft Jackson, S.C.
2. March 1997 – May 1997, Petroleum Supply Specialist Advanced Individual Training, Ft Lee, Va
3. February 2001 – December 2001, Personnel Specialist, 419th Mission Support Flight, Hill AFB, Utah
4. June 2004 - September 2005, Chief Customer Service, 419th Mission Support Flight, Hill AFB, Utah
5. October 2005 - March 2006, Information Management Helper, 67th Aerial Port Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
6. April 2006 - March 2008, Assistant, Base IMA Administrator, HQ Readiness Management Group, Hill AFB,
Utah
7. April 2008 - Apr 2013, Base IMA Administrator, HQ Readiness Management Group, Hill AFB, Utah
8. May 2013 - Nov 2016, Manager, Commander Support Staff, HQ Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo
9. Dec 2016 - July2021, Superintendent, Readiness & Training, HQ RIO, Buckley SFB, Colo
10. Aug 2021 - Jun 2023, Manager, IR Operations, HQ RIO/Det 3, Barksdale AFB, La
11. June 2023 – Present, SEL, HQ RIO/Det 3, Peterson SFB, Colo
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with two service stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass and one “M” device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class May 1, 2001
Senior Airman July 1, 2002
Staff Sergeant Sep. 1, 2003
Technical Sergeant March 1, 2005
Master Sergeant May 1, 2007
Senior Master Sergeant April 1, 2014
Chief Master Sergeant Oct. 1, 2016
(Current as of October 2024)