Chief Master Sergeant Susan E. Sparks is the Special Advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF). In this position, she represents the CMSSF and provides the enlisted perspective for the CMSSF in the National Capital Region, Joint Staff, Department of Defense (DoD), Space Force (SF) meetings and committees, and civic events. She also manages a five- member staff and is the lead action officer and principal advisor for issues affecting more than 12,673 Total Force Guardians. Additionally, she reviews and provides the enlisted perspective recommendation on all DoD and SF policies; manages and schedules all CMSSF’s speaking activities, legislative meetings and worldwide base visits. Furthermore, she performs as the liaison with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sister Service components, Combatant Commands, Headquarters Space Force Staff and Field Commands
CMSgt Sparks grew up in Durham, North Carolina and entered the Air Force in 1994. She has served within United States Strategic Command, United States Space Command, Air Force Space Command and Air Combat Command. Her background includes various duties in both the space operations and the electronic systems career field. She has been stationed at locations in District of Columbia, Colorado, California, South Carolina, Greenland and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
During her career, Chief Sparks has built extensive leadership experience by holding positions at squadron, group, wing, Delta and MAJCOM levels as well as Joint and Combatant Command assignments. Her experience spans several mission areas to include space- based and ground- based missile warning, missile defense, command and control, space control operations, acquisitions, MAJCOM functional manager and Air Operations Center positions.
EDUCATION
1999 Airman Leadership School, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2005 Space 200, National Security Space Institute, Air University, Colorado Springs, CO
2006 Advanced Missile Warning and Missile Defense, National Security Space Institute, Air University, Colorado Springs, CO
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2007 Associates Degree in Space Technology, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
2007 Associates Degree in Electronic Systems Technology, CCAF
2008 Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Colorado Christian University
2011 Professional Managers Certification, CCAF
2012 Space 300, National Security Space Institute, Air University, Colorado Springs, CO
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, National Defense University
2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 USAF Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994 - August 1994, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. August 1994 - April 1995, Student, Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, MS
3. April 1995 - June 1998, Electronic Computer-Switching Systems Apprentice, 20th Communications Sq, Shaw AFB, SC
4. June 1998 – June 2002, Crew Chief, Training; 11th Space Warning Sq, Schriever AFB, CO
5. June 2002 - January 2004, Systems Network Analyst Admin, 527th Space Aggressor Sq, Schriever AFB, CO
6. January 2004 – January 2005, Standardization and Evaluations Specialist, 12th Space Warning Sq., Thule AB, Greenland
7. Jan 2005 – February 2006, NCOIC, Standardization and Evaluations, 21st Space Wing, Wing Operations Center, Peterson AFB, CO
8. February 2006 – June 2007, Squadron Operations Superintendent, 16th Space Control Sq, Peterson AFB, CO
9. June 2007 – June 2009, NCOIC, Space Control Programs, 21st Space Wing, Plans and Programs, Peterson AFB, CO
10. June 2009 – August 2012, Manager, Operations Center, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense (JFCC -IMD), Schriever AFB, CO
11. August 2012 – June 2016, Superintendent, 614th Air Operations Center, Operations Support Division, Vandenberg AFB, CA
12. June 2016 – September 2018, Manager, Special Access Programs, Directorate of Financial Management, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO
13. September 2018 – June 2019, Squadron Superintendent, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
14. June 2019 – November 2019, Squadron Superintendent, 4th Space Control Squadron, Peterson AFB, CO
15. November 2019 – July 2020, Superintendent, 21st Operations Group, Peterson AFB, CO
16. July 2020 – March 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Delta 2, Space Operations Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
17. March 2021 – Present, Special Advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Headquarters, Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with small bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with gold border
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Air Force Space Command Crew Member Excellence Award
2001 11 SWS Guardian Challenge Team Crew Chief
2007 21 OG Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council Outstanding Military Representative
2010 JFCC -IMD NCO Year/USSTRATCOM 12 OAY Nominee
2011 JFCC -IMD SNCO Year/ USSTRATCOM 12 OAY Nominee
2011 JFCC -IMD Mil Affairs Council Outstanding Military Representative
2012 Joint Space Operations Center, Enlisted Space Operator of the Year
2013 61th AOC, Senior Enlisted Space Operator of the Year
2015 AFSPC Selection for CSAF America’s Airmen Booth for the AFA Air and Space Conference
2017 HQ AFSPC FM, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant 1 April 2019
(Current as of March 2022)