CMSgt Ramon Colon-Lopez Signed Lithograph

CMSgt Ramon Colon-Lopez Signed Lithograph

PJ Ramon Colon-Lopez was a member of the 24th STS twice. From February 1999 – January 2005 Colon-Lopez was a Special Tactics Element Leader and April 2009 – April 2011 he was the Squadron's Senior Enlisted Advisor. In 2007 Colon-Lopez was one of the first six recipients of the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal. He was awarded the AFCAM for a 2004 operation in Afghanistan during which he led an Advance Force Operations Team.

From 1999 to 2005 Colón-López was a member of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron as a Special Tactics Element Leader. While a member of the 24th STS, from July 2002 to September 2004, Colón-López was deployed four times to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan as part of a joint task force to several classified locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. While deployed he participated in a series of joint operations, including direct assaults and combat search and rescue missions. During this time he also protected future Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai, and received his first Bronze Star Medal with valor for his actions under fire while supporting Karzai's security detail. His second Bronze Star Medal was for his actions after his helicopter was shot down during a mission in Afghanistan. After the helicopter crash-landed two Navy SEALs and Colón-López assaulted fortified enemy positions, killing five combatants and ensuring the safety of the remaining crew.[2] He was selected to create and implement the unit's compartmented Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations team, which serviced the entire Joint Special Operations arena.

On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high-level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter drew hostile enemy fire yet Colón-López continued on his mission, which resulted in two enemy kills, the capture of 10 enemy troops and the destruction of multiple rocket-propelled grenades and small caliber weapons. In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later as interim Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.

Chief Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Headquarters U.S. Africa Command, (HQ U.S. AFRICOM). 

Chief Colon-Lopez enlisted in the United States Air Force in December 1990. He has held assignments in U.S. Air Forces Europe, Air Combat Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Education and Training Command, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Special Operations Command, and Air Forces Central Command. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, INHERENT RESOLVE, and several other locations. Before assuming his current position, he served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C. He assumed his current duties on 7 September 2016.

CMSgt. Colón-López in Afghanistan in 2004.

EDUCATION

1991 USAF Traffic Management School, Sheppard AFB, Texas.

1994 USAF Pararescue Selection Course (OL-H), Lackland AFB, Texas.

1995 Special Forces Underwater Operations (SFUWO) Combat Diver Course, NAS Key West, Fla.

1996 Pararescue Apprentice Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

1997 Airman Leadership School, Holloman AFB, N.M.

2000 SFUWO Dive Medical Technician Course, NAS Key West, Fla 

2001 Airborne Jumpmaster Course, Little Creek NAS, Va. 

2003 Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course, Yuma PG, Ariz.

2003 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.

2005 Basic Instructor Course, Lackland AFB, Texas.

2005 Associate degree in Survival and Rescue Operations, Community College of the Air Force. 

2005 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (correspondence)

2007 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.

2009 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.

2011 Senior Enlisted Joint PME (correspondence)

2011 Keystone - National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C. 

2012 Gettysburg Leadership Experience, Gettysburg, Pa.

2012 USAF Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C. 

2012 Latin America: A Political-Economic Conflict Seminar, Washington D.C.

2015 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.

2017 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Washington D.C.

2017 Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (Cum Laude), University of Maryland, Md.

2017 Associate degree in Management Studies, University of Maryland, Md.

2017 Professional Manager’s Certification, University of Maryland, Md.

ASSIGNMENTS

1.April 1991 - October 1992, Traffic Management Specialist, 7276 ABG, Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece

2.October 1992 - September 1994, Traffic Management Journeyman, 12th Tran Sq, Randolph AFB, Texas

3.September 1994 - October 1996, Pararescue student, Det 1 342 TRS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

4.October 1996 - February 1999, Pararescue Journeyman, 48th Rescue Sq, Holloman AFB, N.M.

5.February 1999 - January 2005, Special Tactics Element Leader, 24th STS, Pope AFB, N.C.

6.January 2005 - November 2006, Training Supt. /CEM, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

7.November 2006 - April 2009, Commandant, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

8.April 2009 - April 2011, Senior Enlisted Advisor, 24th Special Tactics Sq, Pope AFB, N.C.

9.April 2011 - November 2011, Group Superintendent, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, N.C.

10.November 2011 - January 2013, Command Chief, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

11.January 2013 - June 2014, Command Chief, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan

12.June 2014 - June 2016, Command Chief, United States Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia

13.July 2016 - September 2016, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

14.September 2016 - Present, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal with Valor and oak leaf cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Combat Action Medal

Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster Navy Presidential Unit Citation

Air Force Recognition Ribbon with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1994 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone.

1997 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School.

1998 Air Combat Command (ACC) Pararescue Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

2003 Commandant's Award and Distinguished Graduate, Gunter NCO Academy.

2004 Air Force Pararescue Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

2005 Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipient, Senior Noncommissioned Officer. 

2005 Team Kirtland Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

2006 Jaycee's Ten Outstanding Young Americans USAF nominee to U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

2013 Gathering of Eagles Inductee, USAF Air Command and Staff College.

2017 Induction, Distinguished Veteran’s Hall of Fame, Puerto Rico.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Chief Master Sergeant Dec 1, 2009 (Current as of October 2017).

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