CMSgt Joshua A. Matias is the Senior Enlisted Leader, 2nd Operations Group, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He serves as the personal advisor to the Group Commander on all matters pertaining to career progression, utilization, training, organizational performance, and health/welfare of the enlisted force. Chief Matias provides mentorship and guidance to 560 assigned military and civilian personnel across four squadrons to ensure the group can provide our Nation’s leaders with global strike and deterrence options across the spectrum of nuclear and conventional operations.
CMSgt Matias was born in Chicago, Ill, March 5, 1985 and was raised in Milwaukee, Wis. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2003 and graduated from the United States Air Force Air Traffic Control technical training course, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in 2004. He has held a variety of positions to include Tower Watch Supervisor, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Training and Standardization, Tower Chief Controller, Radar Approach Control Chief Controller, and Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader. His assignments include bases in Illinois, Korea, United Kingdom, Oklahoma, Mississippi, California, and Texas. In addition, CMSgt Matias has deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to his current position, he was assigned as dual-hatted Radar Approach Control Chief Controller and Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, Laughlin AFB, Texas.
EDUCATION
2003 Air Traffic Control Technical Training School, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2006 Airman Leadership School, Scott AFB, Illinois
2011 Associates in Air Traffic Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2014 Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
2014 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2015 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 14, by correspondence
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I Course, by correspondence
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II Course, by correspondence
2017 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2019 Master of Arts Christian Ministry, focus on Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
2022 Chief’s Leadership Course, Maxwell, AFB, Alabama
2023 NUC 300 Advanced Nuclear Concepts, AFIT School of Strategic Force Studies, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2023 NC3 300 Advanced Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications, Louisiana Tech Research Institute, Barksdale AFB, LA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2003–October 2003, Student, Basic Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. October 2003–February 2004, Student, Air Traffic Control Technical Training Course, Keesler AFB, MS
3. March 2004–May 2007 Air Traffic Controller, 375th Operations Support Squadron, Scott AFB, Illinois (April 2005–September 2005, Air Traffic Controller, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Balad, Iraq; September 2006–February 2007, Air Traffic Controller, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Balad, Iraq)
4. May 2007–May 2008, Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. June 2008–June 2011 Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom (September 2009–January 2010, NCOIC Tower Operations, Pristina, Kosovo)
6. June 2011–April 2014 Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor, Vance AFB, OK (April 2012–November 2012, Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor, 405th Air Expeditionary Group, Thumrait Air Base, Oman)
7. April 2014–April 2016 NCOIC, Air Traffic Control Training and Standardization, Morón AB, Spain
8. April 2016–November 2017 NCOIC, Air Traffic Control Training, Columbus AFB, MS (April 2017–October 2017, Control Tower Chief Controller, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates)
9. November 2017–November 2018, Air Traffic Control Tower Chief Controller, Columbus AFB, MS
10. November 2018–July 2021, Air Traffic Control Tower Chief Controller, Edwards AFB, CA (May 2020–August 2020, Radar Approach Control Chief Controller, Al Asad AB, Iraq)
11. July 2021–May 2022, Radar Approach Control Chief Controller, Laughlin AFB, TX
12. May 2022–January 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 47th Operations Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
13. January 2023–Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, 2d Operations Group, Barksdale AFB, LA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Outstanding Airman of the Year Medal
Air and Space Recognition Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 HQ AMC Honor Guard Member of the Year
2006 AF Communication Services Controller of the Year
2006 ATC Association Air Force Air Traffic Controller of the Year
2006 Air Traffic Control Trainer of the Year
2007 51st FW/IG Hero Award
2010 ATSEP Outstanding Performer
2011 71st Watch Supervisor of the Year
2013 71st OSS NCO of the Year
2013 71st Flying Training Wing Lance P. Sijan Junior Enlisted Award Nominee
2014 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2016 496th ABS NCO of the Year
2016 14th OSS SNCO of the Year
2016 14th Flying Training Wing Tuskegee Airman Award Nominee
2017 14th FTW SNCO of the Year
2018 AF 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year
2018 14th FTW Air Traffic Control Senior Enlisted Manager of the Year
2020 HQ AFMC Air Traffic Control Senior Enlisted Manager of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Airman 1st Class August 19, 2003
Senior Airman Jun. 19, 2005
Staff Sergeant Jun. 1, 2007
Technical Sergeant Apr. 1, 2012
Master Sergeant Apr. 1, 2016
Senior Master Sergeant March 1, 2019
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2021
(Current as of October 2023)