Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna serves at the highest enlisted level of leadership and provides direction for the enlisted force representing their interests to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He acts as the personal advisor to the Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and development of the U.S. Space Force.
Chief Bentivegna entered the United States Air Force in 1994 and has served in both Maintenance and Space Operations career fields. He has held positions at the squadron, division, group, wing, Numbered Air Force, Field Command and Headquarters Air and Space Force levels and served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief Operations Officer and is the Enlisted Space Systems Operations Career Field Manager, Headquarters Space Force, Washington, D.C.
Chief Bentivegna entered the United States Space Force on September 1, 2020.
EDUCATION
1999 Airman Leadership School, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
2001 Advanced Space Operations Course, National Security Space Institute, Colo.
2001 Space in the Air Operations Center, National Security Space Institute, Colo.
2002 Associate Degree, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2002 Associate Degree, Space Operations Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2008 United States Marine Corps Staff NCO Advanced Course, Quantico, Va.
2014 Professional Management Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, N.C.
2015 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2016 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Learning
2016 AFSO21 Executive Leadership Course, University of Tennessee, Tenn.
2016 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by distance learning
2018 Keystone 18-1 Fellow, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2022 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, American Military University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994–October 1994, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1994–June 1995, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Technical Training School, Keesler
AFB, Miss.
3. July 1995–May 1998, Precision Measurement Equipment Lab Technician, McGuire AFB, N.J.
4. June 1998–October 2002, Ground Systems Operator, Defense Support Program, Buckley AFB, Colo.
5. November 2002–November 2003, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Operations Training, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
6. December 2003–November 2007, Superintendent, 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
7. December 2007–September 2010, Superintendent, Mission Management Division, Aerospace Data Facility, Buckley AFB, Colo.
8. October 2010–June 2013, Superintendent, 76th Space Control Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9. July 2013–April 2015, Superintendent, 460th Operations Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
10. April 2015–January 2017, Command Chief, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
11. February 2017–November 2017, Chief, Air Force Enlisted Force Development, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. December 2017–January 2019, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Air Force Element, National Reconnaissance
Office, Chantilly, Va.
13. February 2019–December 2019, Command Chief, 14th Air Force & Combined Force Space Component Command, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
14. December 2019–September 2020, Command Chief, Space Operations Command & Combined
Force Space Component Command, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
15. October 2020–January 2021, Command Chief, Space Operations Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
16. February 2021–May 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base,
Colo.
17. June 2022–August 2023, Senior Enlisted Advisor to Chief Operations Officer and Enlisted Space
Operations Career Field Manager, Headquarters Space Force, Washington, D.C.
18. September 2023–Present, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, United States Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with nine oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Space Force Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
National Reconnaissance Office Distinguished Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
1997 Airman of the Year, 305th Air Mobility Wing
1999 John Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
1999 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2008 Honor Graduate, United States Marine Corps, Staff NCO Advanced Course
2009 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force September 2023
(Current as of September 2023)