Senior Master Sergeant Kristopher-Michael K. Kainoa

Senior Master Sergeant Kristopher-Michael K. Kainoa is triple-hatted as the Delta 15, National Space Defense Center, and Joint Task Force-Space Defense Operations Directorate Senior Enlisted Leader, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.  He is responsible for managing over 300 personnel that plan and execute space warfighting command and control operations to meet U.S. Space Command objectives.  Sergeant Kainoa serves as the senior advisor to the Delta 15 Commander, National Space Defense Center Director, and Joint Director of Operations on all matters pertaining to force development, evaluations, manpower, training, resource management, and recognition programs in support of the nation’s Protect and Defend mission.  Finally, he facilitates and advises on the career development and progression of assigned joint enlisted personnel.
 
Senior Master Sergeant Kainoa hails from Waipahu, Hawaii and entered active duty in November 2003 after graduating from Waipahu High School earlier that year.  His background includes various duties as an aircraft maintainer for the A-10 Attack Aircraft and as a Space Professional across the Colorado Front Range.  Sergeant Kainoa has served stateside and overseas as well as deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  In September 2020, Sergeant Kainoa officially transferred from the United States Air Force into the United States Space Force where he continues to serve.
 
EDUCATION
2007 Airman Leadership School, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
2010 Associates in Applied Science, Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Associates in Applied Science, Air and Space Operations Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2013 USAF Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2013 Phoenix Stripe Conference, Air Mobility Command, correspondence
2015 Associates in Applied Science, Military Technology Leadership, Thomas Edison State University, N.J.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, correspondence
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2018 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, correspondence
 
ASSIGNMENTS
  1. November 2003 - December 2003, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
  2. December 2003 - February 2004, Student, Electronic Principles Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
  3. February 2004 - July 2004, Student, F-15/A-10/U-2 Communication, Navigation, and Penetration Aids Systems Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
  4. July 2004 - February 2009, A-10 Avionics System Technician, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
  5. February 2009 - July 2009, Force Protection Security Escort, 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
  6. July 2009 - October 2009, Student, Space Systems Operations Course, 533d Training Squadron, Vandenburg AFB, Cali.
  7. November 2009 - October 2010, Satellite System Operator, 2d Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
  8. November 2010 - February 2012, Satellite System Evaluator, 460th Operations Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
  9. February 2012 - March 2013, Space Duty Technician, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
  10. March 2013 - March 2015, NCOIC, Inspections Branch, 460th Operations Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
  11. March 2015 - September 2017, Flight Chief, Weapons & Tactics, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  12. October 2017 - September 2018, Flight Chief, Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  13. September 2018 - June 2019, Squadron Superintendent, 319th Combat Training Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  14. June 2019 - June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, Strategy Division, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
  15. June 2022 – present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Delta 15, National Space Defense Center, and Joint Task Force-Space Defense Operations Directorate, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2005 Promotion to Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2007 Lt Gen Leo Marquez Technician/Supervisor of the Year, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
2010 Air Force Association Pitsenbarger Award
2012 NCO of the Year, 460th Operations Group
2012 Enlisted Space Operator of the Year, 460th Space Wing
2013 NCO of the Year, 460th Operations Group Standardization/Evaluation
2013 JINSA Grateful Nation Award, Air Force Space Command
2014 NCO of the Year, Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1179
2014 NCO of the Year, 460th Space Wing
2015 NCO of the Year, Advanced Space Operations School
2016 SNCO of the Year, Advanced Space Operations School
2018 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2020 Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award, 613th Air Operations Center

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Airman Basic, 12 November 2003
Senior Airman, 26 October 2005
Staff Sergeant, 1 Jul 2007
Technical Sergeant, 1 July 2011
Master Sergeant, 1 January 2016
Senior Master Sergeant, 1 February 2019
 
(Current as of 14 March 2023)