Chief Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Headquarters U.S. Africa Command, (HQ U.S. AFRICOM).
Chief Colon-Lopez enlisted in the United States Air Force in December 1990. He has held assignments in U.S. Air Forces Europe, Air Combat Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Education and Training Command, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Special Operations Command, and Air Forces Central Command. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, INHERENT RESOLVE, and several other locations. Before assuming his current position, he served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C. He assumed his current duties on 7 September 2016.
EDUCATION
1991 USAF Traffic Management School, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
1994 USAF Pararescue Selection Course (OL-H), Lackland AFB, Texas.
1995 Special Forces Underwater Operations (SFUWO) Combat Diver Course, NAS Key West, Fla.
1996 Pararescue Apprentice Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
1997 Airman Leadership School, Holloman AFB, N.M.
2000 SFUWO Dive Medical Technician Course, NAS Key West, Fla
2001 Airborne Jumpmaster Course, Little Creek NAS, Va.
2003 Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course, Yuma PG, Ariz.
2003 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2005 Basic Instructor Course, Lackland AFB, Texas.
2005 Associate degree in Survival and Rescue Operations, Community College of the Air Force.
2005 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (correspondence)
2007 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2009 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2011 Senior Enlisted Joint PME (correspondence)
2011 Keystone - National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
2012 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pa.
2012 USAF Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2012 Latin America: A Political-Economic Conflict Seminar, Washington D.C.
2015 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2017 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Washington D.C.
2017 Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (Cum Laude), University of Maryland, Md.
2017 Associate degree in Management Studies, University of Maryland, Md.
2017 Professional Manager’s Certification, University of Maryland, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.April 1991 - October 1992, Traffic Management Specialist, 7276 ABG, Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece
2.October 1992 - September 1994, Traffic Management Journeyman, 12th Tran Sq, Randolph AFB, Texas
3.September 1994 - October 1996, Pararescue student, Det 1 342 TRS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4.October 1996 - February 1999, Pararescue Journeyman, 48th Rescue Sq, Holloman AFB, N.M.
5.February 1999 - January 2005, Special Tactics Element Leader, 24th STS, Pope AFB, N.C.
6.January 2005 - November 2006, Training Supt. /CEM, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7.November 2006 - April 2009, Commandant, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8.April 2009 - April 2011, Senior Enlisted Advisor, 24th Special Tactics Sq, Pope AFB, N.C.
9.April 2011 - November 2011, Group Superintendent, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, N.C.
10.November 2011 - January 2013, Command Chief, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11.January 2013 - June 2014, Command Chief, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
12.June 2014 - June 2016, Command Chief, United States Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia
13.July 2016 - September 2016, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14.September 2016 - Present, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Valor and oak leaf cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Recognition Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone.
1997 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School.
1998 Air Combat Command (ACC) Pararescue Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
2003 Commandant's Award and Distinguished Graduate, Gunter NCO Academy.
2004 Air Force Pararescue Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
2005 Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipient, Senior Noncommissioned Officer.
2005 Team Kirtland Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
2006 Jaycee's Ten Outstanding Young Americans USAF nominee to U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
2013 Gathering of Eagles Inductee, USAF Air Command and Staff College.
2017 Induction, Distinguished Veteran’s Hall of Fame, Puerto Rico.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant Dec 1, 2009 (Current as of October 2017)