Chief Master Sergeant Dan M. Dempsey is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of Space Delta 9 at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. He serves a 450-member total force formation responsible for protect and defend operations. Additionally, as a senior advisor and mentor, he enables the preparation, presentation, and projection of ready Orbital Warfare capabilities to achieve national leaders’ deterrence and superiority objectives.
Chief Dempsey reported to Air Force basic training in October 2001 and served the majority of his career as a Space Systems Operator. Spanning three tours with the 1st Space Operations Squadron, he initially controlled the Defense Support Program and Global Positioning System satellite constellations. While there, he served as initial cadre for Space Based Space Surveillance and the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program. At his career midpoint, he transitioned to Space Electromagnetic Warfare, leading Combat Plans in the Joint Space Operations Center’s Unified Space Vault. Next, as a Space Superiority integrator, he prototyped rapid space control systems, conducted expeditionary operations, and led the operations group’s Standardization and Evaluation Division. After designing and activating Space Delta 3, he served as its Combat Training Squadron’s first Superintendent and led 152 personnel for global force generation and presentation. Most recently, while assigned to Headquarters, Space Operations Command, Chief Dempsey led a 92-member Training, Plans, and Readiness Directorate and served as the command’s Functional Manager for enlisted space operations.
EDUCATION
2002 – Enlisted Space Prerequisite Training, Air Education & Training Command, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2002 – Ground System Operator Initial Qualification Training, Air Education & Training Command Vandenberg AFB, CA 2006 – Airman Leadership School, Peterson AFB, CO
2008 – Principles of Space Control, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2010 – Space 200, National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, CO
2012 – Advanced Orbital Mechanics, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, CO
2013 – Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
2014 – Associate of Applied Science degree in Air & Space Operations Technology, CCAF
2014 – Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I
2017 – Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Course 14
2018 – Space 300, National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, CO
2018 – Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
2019 – Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, AL
2020 – Squadron Superintendent’s Course, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Langley, VA
2022 – Bachelor of Science Degree in Operations Management, Granite State College, Concord, NH
2022 – Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, MacDill AFB, FL
2022 – Present, Master of Science Degree in Leadership, University of New Hampshire, Concord, NH
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2002 – Jul 2008, Crew Chief, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
2. Aug 2008 – Jun 2012, NCOIC, Combat Plans Division, 614th Air & Space Ops Center, Vandenberg AFB, CA
3. Jun 2012 – Mar 2013, Mission Chief, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
4. Apr 2013 – Apr 2014, NCO, Stan/Eval Flight, 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
5. May 2014 – Dec 2014, Flight Chief, Stan/Eval, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
6. Dec 2014 – Mar 2016, NCOIC, Current Operations, 21st Operations Group OL-AA, Peterson AFB, CO
7. Apr 2016 – Jan 2018, Operations Superintendent, 16th Space Control Squadron, Peterson AFB, CO
8. Feb 2018 – Oct 2019, Superintendent, Stan/Eval Division, 21st Operations Group, Peterson AFB, CO
9. Oct 2019 – Mar 2022, Superintendent, 3rd Combat Training Squadron, Peterson SFB, CO
10. Mar 2022 – Feb 2024, SEL, Training, Plans, and Readiness Directorate (S3/5), HQ SpOC, Peterson, CO
11. Feb 2024 – Present, SEL, Space Delta 9, Schriever SFB, CO
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters and one Remote Operations device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2016 – General Lance W. Lord Noncommissioned Officer Award for Superior Enlisted Leadership
2019 – Lance P. Sijan Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Award, 21st Operations Group, Peterson AFB, CO 2019 – 2019 - Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 – Honor Graduate, Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, MacDill AFB, FL
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant June 2023
Senior Master Sergeant January 2020
Master Sergeant December 2016
Technical Sergeant February 2012
Staff Sergeant December 2006
Senior Airman April 2004
Airman First Class December 2001
Airman Basic November 2001