Chief Master Sgt. Manuel R. Zubia is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. He represents the highest level of enlisted leadership in which involves advising the commander on all matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, professional development, training, and effective utilization of more than 500 active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and civilian teammates. Chief Zubia also provides leadership and guidance as the commander’s representative to numerous committees, councils, boards, military and civilian functions worldwide, impacting nearly 1.3 million active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and retired members.
Zubia enlisted in the Air Force in February of 1997 and attended Aircraft Armament Systems school at Sheppard Air Force Base. He served on active duty for 12 years with 4 years as an F-16 Armaments Specialist before cross training into Personnel. In 2008, he left active duty for the Air Force Reserve serving in a variety of Personnel related positions at both the Wing and Headquarters levels. He has served in many military categories fulfilling numerous leadership roles.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Command
Chief Master Sergeant of the 919th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Duke Field Florida.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2002 Associate Degree, Aircraft Armament Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala. 2003 Associate Degree, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala. 2006 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, Lubbock, Texas
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2011 Master of Business Administration, Project Management, Trident University, Cypress, Calif. 2011 Project Management Professional Certification, Project Management Institute, Philadelphia Pa.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C. 2012 US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, Petaluma, Calif.
2016 Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor College of Financial Planning, Centennial, Colo. 2017 Professional Managers Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala. 2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course I, Suffolk Va.
2019 Master of Science, Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia, Athens 2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II, Suffolk Va.
2020 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Executive Leadership Program in Managing for Inclusion Course, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 2023 Continuous Improvement and Innovation for Executives Course, Duke University, Durham NC.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill NC. 2024 Latin America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capital Hill Club, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 1997 – May 1997, Weapons Load Crew Member, 62 Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2. May 1997 – Aug 2000, Squadron Lead Crew Team Member, 56 Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. Aug 2000 – May 2001, Decorations Technician, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. May 2001 – Feb 2003, Commander Support Staff Apprentice, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. Feb 2003 – Dec 2004, Personnel Systems Management Tech, 56 Mission Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. Dec 2004 – Dec 2008, NCOIC, Personnel, Texas Tech University AFROTC, Lubbock, Texas
7. Dec 2008 – Aug 2009, Assistant Chief of Employment, 944 Force Support Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. Aug 2009 – Oct 2009, NCOIC, Total Force Project Manager, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
9. Oct 2009 – Aug 2011, Enlisted Exec to the Commander, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
10. Aug 2011 – May 2012, NCOIC, Program Management, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
11. May 2012 – Oct 2014, NCOIC, Performance Management, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colo.
12. Oct 2014 – Aug 2018, IMA to Records Management Super, National Personnel Records Center, St Louis, Mo.
13. Aug 2018 – Jul 2020, Superintendent, 94 Force Support Squadron, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
14. Jul 2020 – Oct 2022, A1 Chief Enlisted Manager, HQ Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. Oct 2022 – Jun 2024, Command Chief, 919 Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Eglin AFB, Fl.
16. Jun 2024 – Present, Command Chief, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 Senior Airman Below-The-Zone
2012 US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy Fitness Award 2010 AFRC A1 Force Support NCO of the Year
2010 AFRC Lance P. Sijan US Air Force Leadership Award 2022 AFRC General Billy J. Boles Mentorship Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman February 19, 1997
Airman First Class December 19, 1997
Senior Airman August 19, 1999
Staff Sergeant January 1, 2002
Technical Sergeant November 1, 2009
Master Sergeant November 1, 2011
Senior Master Sergeant December 1, 2016
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2018
(Current as of May 2024)