Shay Warakomski
Official portrait, 2021
Born (1975-10-15) October 15, 1975 (age 48)
Lilburn, Georgia, U.S.[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1998–2020 (Air Force)
  • 2020–present (Space Force)
RankColonel
Commands heldSpace Base Delta 1
375th Communications Group
56th Communications Squadron
AwardsLegion of Merit
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (MBA)
Signature

Zachary Shay Warakomski (born October 15, 1975)[2] is a United States Space Force colonel who served as the commander of Space Base Delta 1. He now serves as the senior cyber officer of the Space Force. In 2024, he was nominated for promotion to brigadier general.[3]

Early life and education

Cadet Warakomski

Warakomski's grandfather was a United States Army officer who served during the Vietnam War.[4]

Warakomski was nominated to the United States Naval Academy by Senator Paul Coverdell.[5] In 1994, he graduated from Parkview High School and entered the United States Air Force Academy.[6] 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.[7]

Military career

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

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–present, Senior Cyber Officer, Headquarters United States Space Force, Washington, D.C.[8]

Awards and decorations

Warakomski is the recipient of the following awards:[8]

Master Cyberspace Operator Badge
Basic Space Operations Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Air Staff Badge
Commander's Insignia
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes 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
Silver oak leaf cluster
 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[8]
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[9]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zachary S. Warakomski.
  1. ^ "USAFA Year Book 1998" (PDF). amazonaws.com. Retrieved January 21, 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Warakomski Family History". sortedbyname.com.
  3. ^ Hadley, Greg (September 15, 2023). "Cyber Bosses Seek to Exploit Full Capacity of Joint Force". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  4. ^ "The Hopkins Journal 12 Nov 2009, page 6". Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "The Atlanta Constitution 28 Dec 1993, page 66". Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "The Atlanta Constitution 25 Oct 1994, page 66". Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "The Atlanta Constitution 26 Sep 1994, page 14". Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "COLONEL ZACHARY S. WARAKOMSKI". www.schriever.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "PN2172 - 634 nominees for Space Force, 116th Congress (2019-2020) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
Military offices Preceded byMarc L. Packler Commander of the 375th Communications Group 2019–2021 Succeeded byKyle Baldassari Preceded byJames E. Smith Commander of Space Base Delta 1 2021–2022 Succeeded byDavid G. Hanson Preceded byMichael E. Conley Deputy Commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command 2022–2023 Succeeded byDennis Bythewood Preceded byJohn P. Smail Senior Cyber Officer of the United States Space Force 2023–present Incumbent
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