PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Joseph, Space Delta 3 combat development division superintendent, became one of the first cyber professionals to enlist in the U.S. Space Force on Dec. 1, 2020.
In May of this year, Joseph submitted his application to be considered at the Cyber E8-E9 board for transfer into the USSF as a non-organic U.S. Air Force specialty code 3D1X3, Radio Frequency Transmission Systems. With his application approved, he is slated to depart his position at Space Delta 3 and join Space Delta 6 to help pave the future of cyber within the USSF.
“It is extremely humbling to have been selected among such an elite group of leaders,” Joseph said. “I even had the privilege of having Lt. Col. Matthew Thompson, the 721st Operations Support Squadron commander, officiate my enlistment.”
Joseph explained there were many reasons he decided to transition to the USSF, but the main reason stemmed from his fascination with the domain.
“Many years ago, I walked into the Combined Space Operation Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base [in California],” Joseph explained. “That assignment introduced me to a domain that not only enabled the capabilities of our other warfighting domains, but executed its own unique active capabilities.”
Joseph is one of 35 senior non-commissioned officers from across the Air Force who have been chosen to transfer into the USSF and stand up cyber operations capabilities across the force.
Chief Master Sgt. Zackeriah Stys, the Enlisted Cyber Functional Manager for the Talent Management Office, was a part of the transfer boards. He said the main purpose of these recent transfers is to utilize high-performing Airmen and Space Professionals to ensure the long-term career health for the USSF. Stys further explained that space experience and space education were two major factors in the selection process.
“Of the folks I know personally that transferred I can say with confidence the Space Force got it right,” Stys said. “The crop of senior enlisted leaders transferring over to the Space Force are among the best in the business, bringing entire military careers to the fight and more importantly are motivated to lead our Space Professionals into the next chapters of this service.”
Joseph and his team now make up one of only five Combat Development Divisions across the entire USAF and USSF. He recognizes his duty as a unique opportunity and explained that he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else.
“I realized that I wanted to be a part of the space domain for the remainder of my career,” Joseph said. “Fast forward to the United States Space Force actually becoming a thing and I have an opportunity to join its ranks, and here we are.”