CMSgt Zachary Pate is the Group Superintendent, 14th Mission Support Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. In this position Chief Pate provides leadership, management and guidance in organizing, equipping, training, and mobilizing a 665 person work force consisting of six squadrons. The Mission Support Group operates and maintains all facilities and infrastructure for a 6,013-acre base and provides contracting, law enforcement, supply, transportation, fire protection, communications, education, recreation and personnel management for 9,500 personnel enabling the successful mission of Air Education and Training Command’s Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. Prior to this position, CMSgt Pate was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 71st Mission Support Group at Vance AFB, Oklahoma.
CMSgt Pate was born in Union City located in the mighty Volunteer state of Tennessee. He graduated high school in 1997 at Martin Westview high school and entered the Air Force in 1999. CMSgt Pate graduated Security Forces Apprentice Course in June of 1999 and went on to perform duties as an Entry Controller, Reports and Analysis Clerk as well as Installation Patrolman. In 2004, CMSgt Pate retrained into Cyber Systems Operations and performed duties ranging from Missile Warning Administrator, Site Integration and multiple Technical Training Instructor Roles in the Cyber Systems arena. In 2013, CMSgt Pate was selected to become an 8F000 where he served three different installations during his tenure as a First Sergeant. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH and INHERENT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
2002 Airman Leadership School, Scott AFB, IL
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
2009 Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, CCAF
2009 Associates Degree in Information Systems Technology, CCAF
2011 Associates Degree in Instructor of Technology in Military Science, CCAF
2013 Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2015 Associates Degree in Human Resource Management, CCAF
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF
2018 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management, American Military University
2021 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Month Year – Month Year, Duty Title, Unit, Installation, State
January - March 1999, Basic Trainee, 323rd Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX.
March - June 1999, Student, Security Forces Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, TX.
June 1999 - October 2003, Reports and Analysis Clerk, 375th Security Forces Squadron, Scott AFB, IL.
October 2003 - October 2004, Installation Patrolman, 375th Security Forces Squadron, Scott AFB, IL.
October 2004 - February 2008, Missile Warning Administrator, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO.
February 2008 - November 2009, NCOIC, Site Integration, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, CO.
July 2010 - November 2011, Instructor, NCOIC COMSEC Management, 333rd Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS.
November 2011 - June 2012, Instructor Supervisor, IT Fundamentals, 333rd Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS.
July 2012 - December 2012, NCOIC, Scope Eagle, 333rd Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS.
December 2012 – November 2013, Section Chief, IT Fundamentals, 333rd Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS.
Dec 2013 – December 2015, First Sergeant, 61st Air Base Group, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
January 2016 – January 2017, First Sergeant, 694th Intelligence Support Squadron, Osan AB, RoK.
January 2017 – April 2017, First Sergeant, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL.
April 2017 – March 2019, First Sergeant, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL.
March 2019 – June 2019, Operations Flight Chief, 96th Communications Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL.
June 2019 – December 2020, Cyber Ops Flight Chief, 88 Communications Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
January 2020 – February 2021, Superintendent, 88 Communications Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
February 2021 – August 2021, Group Superintendent, Wing Staff Agency, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
August 2021 – November 2023, Superintendent, 71st Mission Support Group Vance AFB, OK.
November2023 -- Current, Group Superintendent, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, MS.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Korea Defense Service Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant Sep 2020
(Current as of November 2023)