CMSgt Kevin Ishman is the Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA), Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. In this position, he advises leadership on matters influencing the welfare, professional development and effective direction of the total force assigned to SAF/IA. Additionally, he is the Department of the Air Force Career Field Manager for the Enlisted International Affairs community, overseeing a team across seven Combatant Commands enabling international partnerships, capacity building and interoperability. As the SEA he provides recommendations for U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force international policy and programs supporting national security objectives through a broad security cooperation (SC) portfolio. These SC activities include political-military affairs, security assistance programs, technology and information disclosure, education and training, exercises, cooperative research and development, senior leader engagements, and the Air Force Foreign Liaison Office.
CMSgt Ishman entered the Air Force in June 2003, and his background includes various duties within the aerospace maintenance career field at the squadron and major command levels. His assignments include bases in Florida and overseas assignments in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Chief Ishman has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM PHILIPPINES, FREEDOM SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to assuming his current position, CMSgt Ishman was the Senior Enlisted Leader at the 415th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, where he led 175 Airmen maintaining 10 HC/MC-130J aircraft valued at $1.8 billion dollars
EDUCATION
2007 Airman Leadership School, Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan
2013 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station (AS), Germany
2014 FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certification, Middle Georgia State University, Ga.
2015 Associates of Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, by correspondence
2017 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Al.
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Course II, by correspondence
2019 Enterprise Management, Joint Special Operations University, Tampa, Fla.
2020 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nv.
2022 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University, Tampa, Fla.
2023 Bachelor of Science, Organizational Leadership, University of Charleston, WV.
2025 Leader Development Course for Squadron Command, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2026 Chief Leadership Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003 – August 2003, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. August 2003 – January 2004, Student, C-130 Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. January 2004 – May 2005, MC-130E Crew Chief, 716th Maintenance Squadron, Duke Field, Florida (October 2004 to January 2005, MC-130E Crew Chief, 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Group, Uzbekistan)
4. May 2005 – June 2011, MC-130H Flying Crew Chief, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (January 2010 – May 2010, Flying Crew Chief, 1st Expeditionary Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Bagram, Afghanistan)
5. June 2011 – June 2015, Section Chief, Aero Repair, 352nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
6. June 2015 - July 2019, Production Superintendent, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany (January 2018 - December 2018, C-208 Air Advisor, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan)
7. July 2019 – April 2021, MC-130J Detachment Superintendent, 901st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
8. April 2021 – June 2024, Superintendent, C-130 Weapon System Team, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida (Oct 2022 – April 2023, Camp Xiphos Senior Enlisted Leader, Headquarters, Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant)
9. June 2024 – April 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, 415th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
10. April 2026 – Present, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virgina.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command CMSAF Thomas N. Barnes Award
2008 353d Special Operations Group Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award
2018 Headquarters Air Force Enlisted Air Advisor of the Year
2019 86th Maintenance Group Lance P. Sijan Award
2020 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award
2022 Headquarters Directorate of Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2023 Headquarters Directorate of Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection Capt Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant, 1 May 2024
(Current as of May 2026)