CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JASON L. HANDA
Chief Master Sergeant 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.
The wing maintains 76 F-16 Fighting Falcons to train U.S. and partner nation F-16 pilots and provide 24/7 immediate response operations in support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. In addition, the wing executes remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper missions in support of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and combat operations worldwide. The 162nd also provides support to the Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve Test Center missions. The 162d Wing has units at Morris Air National Guard Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and Ft Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
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.
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, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
6. November 2006- March 2007, Armament Systems Quality Assurance Inspector, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
7. March 2007- April 2007, Graduate, Munitions Systems Apprentice, Shepard AFB, Texas
8. April 2007- July 2011, Armament/Munitions Quality Assurance Inspector, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
9. July 2011- April 2014, Quality Assurance Chief Inspector, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
10. July 2012- July 2015, First Sergeant 162nd Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
11. April 2014- Jun 2014, Product Improvement Manager 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
12. June 2014- July 2016, Quality Assurance Supervisor, 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
13. July 2015- November 2017, Wing First Sergeant, 162d Wing, Tucson 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, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
16. January 2018- October 2018, 152d AMU Vice Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
17. October 2018- April 2021, Munitions Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
18. April 2021- January 2025, Wing Weapons Manager, 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
19. January 2025- January 2026, Quality Assurance Superintendent, 162d Maintenance Group, Tucson ANG, Ariz.
20. January 2026- Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 162d Wing, Morris ANG, Ariz.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (5 oak leaf clusters)
Air Force 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
Chief Master Sergeant Oct 30 2018
(Current as of February 2026)