First Guardian graduates from premier Army professional education institution

Chief Master Sgt. Shannon Sanchez, Space Delta 8, U.S. Space Force, is congratulated after receiving a diploma during the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy graduation ceremony, Fort Bliss, Texas, June 16, 2023. Sanchez, a prior senior noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, is the first U.S. Space Force personnel to graduate from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Micah Merrill)

First Guardian graduates from premier Army professional education institution

Gen. James McConville, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, presents Chief Master Sgt. Shannon Sanchez, Space Delta 8, U.S. Space Force, with a diploma during the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy graduation ceremony, Fort Bliss, Texas, June 16, 2023. Sanchez, a prior senior noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, is the first U.S. Space Force personnel to graduate from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Micah Merrill)

First Guardian graduates from premier Army professional education institution

Chief Master Sgt. Shannon Sanchez, Space Delta 8, becomes the first member of the U.S. Space Force to graduate from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas, June 16, 2023. Sanchez, a prior senior noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, has served in the U.S. armed forces for more than 25 years. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Micah Merrill)

First Guardian graduates from premier Army professional education institution

Published June 26, 2023
By SAF/PA Staff Writer
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, VA (AFNS) --

History was made on June 16, 2023, as the first Space Force Guardian graduated from the Sergeants Major Academy at the Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence located in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Chief Master Sgt. Shannan Sanchez, 53rd Space Operations Squadron Detachment Delta senior enlisted leader, began the two-year course while she was a master sergeant in the U.S. Army. But, while in the middle of her course, she transferred from the Army to the Space Force.

“I have spent seven-and-a-half years in Army-space. I fell in love with the mission and everything we can accomplish,” Sanchez said. “When the Space Force opened up, I said: ‘I want to be a part of the Guardians taking off and setting up for the future.’”

The SGM-A’s mission is to “Provide the Army with agile, adaptive senior enlisted leaders of character, competence and commitment to be effective leaders. These leaders, grounded in Army and Joint doctrine, exploit opportunities by leveraging and applying Army resources.”

The academy is designed to prepare its master sergeants (E8) and sergeant majors (E9) to elevate their mindsets from tactical-level thinking to an operational and strategic perspective, so that they are prepared for leadership positions. While the Army designed its course for its sergeant majors, members of other service branches have graduated the Academy.

“The Army has given me so much knowledge on the joint force and how to be an adaptive leader,” Sanchez said. “I can bring both a strategic and tactical background for our Guardians.”

“Shannan is exactly who we need leading our Guardians—taking the heritage, lessons-learned and unique skillsets from the Army's former 53rd Signal Battalion and imbuing the new 53rd Space Operations Squadron with what works best; all while forging a unique Space Force culture in this unit and beyond,” said U.S. Space Force Capt. Nathaniel Shannon, 53rd Space Operations Squadron Detachment Delta commander.

The knowledge Sanchez gained by completing the SGM-A will help her lead effectively at the Space Force and ensure that the Guardians of the 53rd Space Operations Squadron.

If you are interested in learning about careers at the Space Force, please visit the link https://www.spaceforce.com/careers.