CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JASON L. HANDA
Chief Master Sgt. Jason L. Handa is the Command Chief Master Sergeant at the 162d Wing, Arizona Air National Guard, Tucson, Arizona. He is the senior enlisted advisor for one of the largest flying operations in the Air National Guard. He advises the installation commander and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of the command’s 1427 enlisted airmen.
CMSgt. Handa enlisted into the active-duty Air Force in October 1995. He graduated technical training in March 1996 as an Armament Systems Apprentice. His background includes Ordnance and Armament Systems on multiple blocks of the F-16 as well as the A-10 Warthog. CMSgt. Handa transitioned into the Arizona Air National Guard in 2000. His assignments include locations in Arizona, Texas, Qatar, and Afghanistan. Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Handa served as the Quality Assurance Superintendent for the 162d Wing Maintenance Group.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
2008 NCO Academy Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2011 SNCO Academy Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 USAF First Sergeants Academy Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Air Force Resiliency Course, Camp Dawson, W. Va.
2015 CCAF Munitions Systems Technology, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 CCAF Human Resources Management, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Sr. Enlisted Joint Professional Military Ed. I Suffolk, Va.
2017 CCAF Armament Systems Technology, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Sr. Enlisted Joint Professional Military Ed. II Suffolk, Virginia
2018 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2022 Bachelors of Science, Organizational Leadership, Trident University, Calif.
2026 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Andrews AFB, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1995- December 1995, Student at Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. December 1995- March 1996, Student, Armament Systems Apprentice, Shepard AFB, Texas
3. March 1996- November 1997, Armament Systems Journeyman, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. November 1997- October 2000, Honor Guard Assistant NCOIC, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. October 2000- November 2006, Armament Systems Craftsman, Morris ANG, Ariz.
6. November 2006- March 2007, Armament Systems Quality Assurance Inspector, Morris ANG, Ariz.
7. March 2007- April 2007, Graduate, Munitions Systems Apprentice, Shepard AFB, Texas
8. April 2007- July 2011, Armament/Munitions Quality Assurance Inspector, Morris ANG, Ariz.
9. July 2011- April 2014, Quality Assurance Chief Inspector, Morris ANG, Ariz.
10. July 2012- July 2015, First Sergeant 162nd Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
11. April 2014- Jun 2014, Product Improvement Manager 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
12. June 2014- July 2016, Quality Assurance Supervisor, 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
13. July 2015- November 2017, Wing First Sergeant, 162d Wing, Morris ANG, Ariz.
14. July 2016- March 2017, 955th Air Expeditionary Squadron JET/IA First Sergeant, Afghanistan
15. March 2017- January 2018, 148th AMU Armament Supervisor, 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
16. January 2018- October 2018, 152d AMU Vice Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
17. October 2018- April 2021, Munitions Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
18. April 2021- January 2025, Wing Weapons Manager, 162d Maintenance Group, Moris ANG, Ariz.
19. January 2025- January 2026, Quality Assurance Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Morris ANG, Ariz.
20. January 2026- Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 162d Wing, Morris ANG, Ariz.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (6 oak leaf clusters)
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (1 oak leaf cluster)
Meritorious Unit Award (1 oak leaf cluster)
Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal
Arizona Meritorious Service Medal
2016 Air National Guard First Sergeant of the year
2016 Arizona Air National Guard First Sergeant of the year
2014 162d Wing First Sergeant of the year
2009 Arizona Command Chief Master Sergeant Award
Effective Dates of Promotion
Airman Basic Oct. 25, 1995
Airman April 25, 1996
Airman First Class Feb. 25, 1997
Senior Airman April 25, 1998
Staff Sergeant Sept. 7, 2001
Technical Sergeant Feb. 2, 2007
Master Sergeant March 3, 2009
Senior Master Sergeant July 13, 2013
Chief Master Sergeant Oct. 30, 2018
(Current as of July 2026)