Shay Warakomski

Shay Warakomski
Official portrait, 2024
Born	(1975-10-15) October 15, 1975 (age 49) Lilburn, Georgia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force United States Space Force
Years of service	1998–2020 (Air Force) 2020–present (Space Force)
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	Space Base Delta 1 375th Communications Group 56th Communications Squadron
Awards	Legion of Merit
Alma mater	United States Air Force Academy (BS) University of Colorado Colorado Springs (MBA)
Signature

Zachary Shay Warakomski (born October 15, 1975) is a United States Space Force brigadier general who served as the commander of Space Base Delta 1. He now serves as the assistant deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear.

Early life and education

Cadet Warakomski

Zachary Shay Warakomski was born on October 15, 1975, in Lilburn, Georgia. ^{[1] [2]} His grandfather was a United States Army officer who served during the Vietnam War. ^[3]

Warakomski was nominated to the United States Naval Academy by Senator Paul Coverdell. ^[4] In 1994, he graduated from Parkview High School and entered the United States Air Force Academy. ^[5] He also received the 1994 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup, an award given to graduating seniors in Atlanta for academic excellence, school and community activities, and leadership. ^[6]

• 1998 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• 1999 Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
• 2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
• 2004 Master of Business Administration, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
• 2007 Advanced Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
• 2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
• 2010 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
• 2012 Air War College, by correspondence
• 2017 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ^[7]

Military career

Warakomski receives the guidon of Peterson-Schriever Garrison, later redesignated as Space Base Delta 1, from Lt Gen Whiting, 2021

In 2024, Warakomski was nominated and confirmed for promotion to brigadier general. ^[8] On July 18, 2024, he was promoted to brigadier general by Major General Douglas Schiess. On June 21, he took over as assistant deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear for Major General James E. Smith who became the vice director for joint force development at the Joint Staff. ^[9]

Assignments

1. May 1998–November 1998, Deputy Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 437th Communications Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
2. November 1998–February 1999, student, Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. February 1999–May 2000, Commander, Plans and Programs Flight, 437th Communications Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. May 2000–May 2003, Chief, Systems Integration, Directorate of Operational Plans and Joint Matters, DCS, Air and Space Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
5. May 2003 – April 2005, Combat Infrastructure action officer, Networks Division, Directorate of Communications and Information, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
6. April 2005–August 2006, Action Officer, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters PACAF, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
7. August 2006–August 2008, assistant director of Operations, 4th Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
8. August 2008–February 2009, Chief Military Satellite Communications Systems, Capabilities Division, Directorate of Communications and Information, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9. February 2009–December 2009, Commander's Speechwriter, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
10. January 2010–December 2010, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
11. April 2011–June 2013, Commander, 56th Communications Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
12. June 2013–July 2014, Executive Assistant to the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2014–January 2015, Action Officer, Cyberspace Division, Directorate for C4/Cyber, Joint Staff J6, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. January 2015–July 2016, Special Assistant to the chairman, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2016 – June 2017, student, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
16. June 2017 – June 2018, deputy director, Cyberspace Plans and Strategy, 24th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas
17. June 2018–May 2019, Director, Cyberspace Operations – Integrated Planning Element, U.S. Transportation Command, and U.S. Cyber Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. May 2019–June 2021, Commander, 375th Communications Group, Scott AFB, Ill.
19. June 2021–July 2022, Commander, Peterson-Schriever Garrison, Peterson AFB, Colo.
20. August 2022–July 2023, Deputy Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, Vandenberg AFB, Cal.
21. July 2023–June 2024, Senior Cyber Officer, Headquarters United States Space Force, Washington, D.C.
22. June 2024–present, Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, Headquarters United States Space Force, Washington D.C. ^[7]

Awards and decorations

Warakomski is the recipient of the following awards: ^[7]

	Master Cyberspace Operator Badge
	Basic Space Operations Badge
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Space Staff Badge

	Legion of Merit
	Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	National Defense Service Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
	Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

Rank	Branch	Date [7]
Second Lieutenant	Air Force	May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant		May 27, 2000
Captain		May 27, 2002
Major		December 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel		October 1, 2012
Colonel		January 1, 2019
Colonel	Space Force	~September 30, 2020 [10]
Brigadier General		June 7, 2024

References

1. "Warakomski Family History". sortedbyname.com.
2. "USAFA Year Book 1998" (PDF). amazonaws.com. Retrieved January 21, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
3. "The Hopkins Journal 12 Nov 2009, page 6". Newspapers.com.
4. "The Atlanta Constitution 28 Dec 1993, page 66". Newspapers.com.
5. "The Atlanta Constitution 25 Oct 1994, page 66". Newspapers.com.
6. "The Atlanta Constitution 26 Sep 1994, page 14". Newspapers.com.
7. "Brigadier General Zachary S. Warakomski". United States Space Force . Retrieved June 14, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
8. "PN1269 - 5 nominees for Space Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
9. "Brigadier General(s) Zachary S. Warakomski Promotion Ceremony". DVIDS.
10. "PN2172 - 634 nominees for Space Force, 116th Congress (2019-2020) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".

Military offices
Preceded by Marc L. Packler	Commander of the 375th Communications Group 2019–2021	Succeeded by Kyle Baldassari
Preceded by James E. Smith	Commander of Space Base Delta 1 2021–2022	Succeeded by David G. Hanson
Preceded by Michael E. Conley	Deputy Commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command 2022–2023	Succeeded by Dennis Bythewood
Preceded by John P. Smail	Senior Cyber Officer of the United States Space Force 2023–2024	Vacant
Preceded by James E. Smith	Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear 2024–present	Incumbent