Colonel J. Isaiah Ball serves as the Deputy Commander at Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. He is responsible for personnel support to nearly 1.3 million Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, active duty Air Force, and retired members, ensuring they are ready to deliver strategic Total Force war fighting capability for the Air Force. From initial entry to retirement, the center provides world-class support for “Generations of Airmen” throughout their military careers.
Col. Ball was commissioned in May 2000. His experience includes all three elements of the human resource enterprise: manpower, personnel, and services. Previous jobs include: Manpower Analyst, Executive Officer, Section Commander, Foreign Liaison Officer, Military Personnel Flight Commander, Major Command Deputy Division Chief, Headquarters Air Force Branch Chief and Force Support Squadron Commander. Col. Ball recently served as Chief, Air Force Manpower Programming, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon. His responsibilities included management of a $61B Air Force manpower budget in support of Air Force Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution strategy.
Col. Ball is a United States Space Command “plank holder” for his role in the design and rapid build-up of our nation’s 11th Combatant Command from concept to 1600+ personnel. He has two combat tours as an Afghan National Police Advisor during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Col. Ball last deployed as Director of Joint Manpower and Personnel, Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command - Central, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
EDUCATION:
2000 Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television and Film, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2005 Masters of Arts Political Science and International Relations, Webster University, St. Louis, MO 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence Course)
2016 Air War College (Correspondence Course)
2021 Joint Professional Military Education – Level II (Remote Course)
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 2000 - June 2003, Manpower Analyst, 314 Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, AR
2. Jul 2003 - Jun 2004, Assistant Chief, Support Requirements, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
3. Jul 2004 – Jun 2006, Deputy Chief, Wartime Branch, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
4. Aug 2006 - Aug 2007, Section Commander, 8th Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, ROK
5. Sep 2007 - Apr 2008, Military Personnel Flight Commander, 49th Mission Support Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
6. Apr 2008 – Jun 2010, Operations Officer, 49th Force Support Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
7. Aug 2010 – May 2012, Deputy Chief, Budget Development, Air Force Directorate of Manpower, Organization and Resources, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
8. Jul 2012 – Jun 2013, Executive Officer, Air Force Directorate of Manpower, Organization and Resources, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
9. Jul 2013 – Jul 2014, Foreign Liaison Officer, Headquarters Air Force Foreign Liaison Division, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
10. Jul 2014 – Jul 2016, Commander, 100th Force Support Squadron, RAFB Mildenhall, UK
11. Aug 2016 – May 2018, Deputy Chief, Military and Civilian Personnel Division, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO
12. May 2018 – Sept 2019, Deputy Chief, Manpower and Organization Division, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO
13. Oct 2019 – Aug 2022, Chief, Manpower Programming and Analysis Division, Directorate of Human Capital, Headquarters United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.
14. Sep 22 – August 2025, Chief, Air Force Manpower Programming Division, Directorate of Manpower, Organization and Resources, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
15. August 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
DEPLOYMENTS:
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; Afghan National Police (ANP) Advisor, Camp Eggers, AFG 2008 – 09
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; Chief Advisor, ANP Personnel Policy, Camp Eggers, AFG 2011 – 12
Operation INHERENT RESOLVE; J1/Director, Manpower & Personnel, Al Udeid Air Base, QA, 2017 – 18
RECOGNITION:
2020 – United States Space Command, Senior Tier Officer of the Year Award
2019 – Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Management Engineering Award (Individual)
2017 – Air Force, Force Support Field Grade Officer of the Year Award
2017 – Air Force Space Command, Force Support Field Grade Officer of the Year
2016 – Air Force Space Command, A1, Field Grade Officer of the Year
2012 – Headquarters Air Force, Directorate of Manpower, Organization and Resources Field Grade Officer of the Year
2009 – 49th Force Support Squadron, Company Grade Officer of the Year
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant – June 11, 2000
First Lieutenant – June 11, 2002
Captain – June 11, 2004
Major – May 10, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel – September 1, 2015
Colonel – October 1, 2022
(Current as of Aug 2025)