Ms. Theresa “Terri” Sanchez, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and Cyber Effect Operations Readiness and Talent Management, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arllington, Virginia. She provides policy and oversight for ISR readiness and global force management in support of Air Force major commands, the Joint Staff, and combatant commands. Ms. Sanchez is responsible for the policy, strategy, and oversight of total force intelligence and cyber career fields’ standards and training, as well as development of over 50,000 total force officer, enlisted and civilian Airmen. She is the Senior Air Force Intelligence Civilian Functional Manage oversight of Air Force Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System and the Air Force’s participation in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Joint Duty Assignment program. Finally, Ms. Sanchez serves as the Deputy Air Force Senior Language Authority.
Ms. Sanchez’ federal service career includes leading ISR operations and training activities at squadron, wing and Air Force major command levels. While assigned to the Air Force ISR Agency, she served as the Director of Plans and Programs, Director of Manpower and Personnel and was appointed as the Agency’s Executive Director. After completing Air War College in-residence, Ms. Sanchez established the Air Force element at the National Geospatial Agency. While serving as the Air Force ISR Senior Language Authority, Ms. Sanchez deployed to Headquarters ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan to serve as the Senior Language Advisor to the Combined Force, Deputy Director for Intelligence.
EDUCATION
1991 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Joint Information Warfare Staff Operations Course
2002 Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, summa cum laude, Texas State University, San Marcos
2004 Executive Development Seminar
2005 Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Webster University, Mo.
2009 Master of National Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 National Strategic Studies, University of Syracuse, N.Y.
2018 Women’s Executive Leadership Program, Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C.
2019 Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance, American University, Washington, DC
2021 United States Treasury Executive Institute Executive Coaching, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1982–June 1986, Cryptologic Language Analyst, Electronics Security Command, U.S. Air Force
2. July 1986–December 1992, Air Force Civilian Intel Specialist, Consolidated Security Operations Center, Medina Annex Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
3. January 1993–February 1994, Chief Division Intel Operator and Analyst Training, CSOC, Medina Annex Lackland AFB, Texas
4. March 1994–December 1995, Senior Intel Specialist, CSOC, Medina Annex Lackland AFB, Texas
5. January 1996–May 1996, Chief Production Division, CSOC, Medina Annex Lackland AFB, Texas
6. June 1996–June 1997, Deputy Chief Collection and Reporting Division, Medina Regional Security Operations Center, Medina Annex Lackland AFB, Texas
7. June 1997– September 1999, Deputy Chief Western Hemisphere Division, Medina RSOC, Medina Annex Lackland AFB, Texas
8. October 1999, Selected to participate in the Air Intelligence Agency Civilian Career Management Program, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
9. October 1999–June 2003, Mission Support Planner, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
10.July 2003–August 2004, Chief, ISR Modernization, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas 11.September 2004–August 2006, Chief Requirements Division, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas 12. August 2006–December 2006, Executive Director, Headquarters S Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
13. January 2007–July 2008, Director, Manpower and Personnel, H Headquarters Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
14. August 2008–July 2009, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. August 2009–October 2011, Director Air Force Geospatial Office, Headquarters National Geospatial Agency, Springfield, Va.
16.November 2011–May 2012, Senior Intelligence Advisor, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Joint Warfighter Capabilities, Cyber Capabilities Operations Support Directorate, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2012–September 2012, Air Force ISR Senior Language Authority, Air Force Deputy Senior Language Authority, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18.October 2012–February 2013, Senior Language Advisor to CJ2, Headquarters ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan
19. March 2013–present, Air Force ISR Senior Language Authority/Air Force Deputy Senior Language Authority, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. April 2016–January 2017, Detailed as the Director of Staff for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. January 2017–July 2018, Director, Asymmetric Advantage Airmen, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
22. July 2018–January 2020, Director, ISR Readiness and Talent Management, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
23. February 2020-present, Director, ISR and CEO Readiness and Talent Management, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate, Headquarters AF/A2, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2019 Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Meritorious Civilian Service Award with three oak leaf clusters
Exemplary Civilian Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
2013 Joint Commendation Award
2002 AIA Plans and Programs Senior Civilian of the Year
2001 AIA Senior Civilian of the Year
2000 Gordon Sommers Award, AF ISR Professional of the Year, Senior Level
1999 Intelligence Community Field Star Award for Leadership
1999 Intelligence Community Director of Operations’ Collectors Award
1998 93 IS Civilian of the Year
1998 543 IG Civilian of the Year
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Public Manager, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Certified Intelligence Community Officer, Office Director of National intelligence, Washington D.C.
(Current as of April 2022)