CA State Command Chief

CMSgt Seth Zweben
Chief Master Sergeant Seth M. Zweben
CA State Command Chief
California Air National Guard

Chief Master Sergeant Seth M. Zweben

CMSgt Seth Zweben is the California Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeant, Sacramento, CA. He leverages personal experience and knowledge to translate Commanders Intent into the highest level of mission readiness. He also advises the Commander on all matters pertaining to the development, retention, resiliency, and lethality of the Enlisted force.

CMSgt Zweben Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in Feb 1996. In November 1996 he graduated Basic Training and the School of Infantry and was assigned to Echo Company 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment San Bruno, California as a Rifleman and Machine Gunner. While serving as a Marine Reservist, he studied Political Science at the University of California, Davis. In 2002, CMSgt Zweben transferred into the California Air National Guard at Moffett ANGB and successfully completed Pararescue selection. In 2005 he graduated from the Pararescue Apprentice course and has served as a Pararescuman at Moffett ANGB until present day. As a Pararescuman, he deployed numerous times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve to Afghanistan, Africa, and Iraq. At home station he was the Team Leader on multiple long range open ocean parachute rescue missions and participated in dozens of civilian rescues and contingency operations including the 2008 California wildland fire medical evacuation response, the 2008 Hurricane Gustav/Ike, 2011 Hurricane Irene, and 2017 Hurricane Irma responses. In 2010, he became an AGR at the 131st Rescue Squadron and held the positions of medical logistics NCO, team Scheduler, Training NCO, Flight Chief, Operations Superintendent, Squadron SEL, CMD Joint SEL, and Operations Group SEL. In 2024 he became the State Command Chief Master Sergeant.

As a Drill Status Guardsman from 2006-2009, CMSgt Zweben was a City of Berkeley Firefighter/Paramedic. During this time, he completed, Incident Command System and National Incident Management System training. Prior to assuming his current position, the Chief was the Squadron Superintendent at the 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett Air National Guard Base, Mountain View, California.

Education

  • 1996: United States Marine Corps Boot Camp, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif
  • 1996: United States Marine Corps School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, Calif
  • 2001: Marine Corps instructor Water Survival School, Camp Pendleton, Calif
  • 2003: Army Combat Dive School, Key West, Fla
  • 2003: Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga
  • 2004: Army Military Freefall School, Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz
  • 2004: Air force Sere School (SV80), Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB), Wash
  • 2004: Pararescue Paramedic School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
  • 2005: Pararescue Apprentice Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
  • 2006: Airman Leadership School, by correspondence
  • 2009: Military Tandem and Tethered barrel parachute Course, Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif
  • 2010: Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
  • 2013: Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
  • 2015: Bachelor’s Degree, University of California, Davis, Calif
  • 2016: Contemporary Base Issues Course, Moffett Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Calif
  • 2017: Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SJEMP1)
  • 2017: Associate’s Degree Personnel Recovery, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala
  • 2019: Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SJEMP2)
  • 2021: Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, by correspondence

Assignments

  • July 1996- November 1996, Marine Corps Boot camp/School of Infantry, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif
  • December 1996- February 2002, Machine Gunner, Echo Company 2/23, San Bruno, Calif
  • May 1998- Sep 1998, Charlie Company 3/23, Rodman Naval Station, Panama
  • February 2002- April 2005, Pararescue Student, 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett ANGB, Calif
  • April 2005- February 2010, Pararescuman/Drill status Guardsman, 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett ANGB, Calif
    • (August 2005-Ooctober 2005, Pararescuman, 59th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Kandahar, Afghanistan)
    • (June 2007- September 2007, Element Leader, 59th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Kandahar, Afghanistan)
    • (February 2009- April 2009, Element Leader, 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Djibouti, Africa)
  • February 2010- May 2017, Logistics/Operations NCO, 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett ANGB, Calif
    • (March 2010- July 2010, Team Leader, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Bagram, Afghanistan)
    • (January 2013- April 2013 Team Leader 26 Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Bastion, Afghanistan)
    • (March 2015- June 2015 Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Djibouti, Africa)
  • May 2017-June 2019, Operations Superintendent, 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett ANGB, Calif
    • (July 2018- October 2018 Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, 52nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Al Assad, Iraq)
  • June 2019- Present day, Squadron Superintendent, 131st Rescue Squadron, Moffett ANGB, Calif
  • March 2021-March 2023, Joint Senior Enlisted Leader, CMD, JFHQ, Calif
  • February 2023- 2024, 129th Operations Group Senior Enlisted Leader, Moffett ANGB, Calif
  • May 204- Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, CMD ANG, CHQC, Calif

Major Awards and Decorations

  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Aerial Achievement Medal
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Navy Achievement Medal
  • Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
  • Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Other Achievements

  • 2009 129th Rescue Wing Outstanding NCO of the Year
  • 2018 129th Rescue Wing Outstanding SNCO of the Year

Effective Dates of Promotions

  • Private First Class Jan. 15, 1996
  • Lance Corporal June 7, 1998
  • Corporal March 23, 2000
  • Senior Airman Feb. 6, 2002
  • Staff Sergeant Aug. 1, 2006
  • Technical Sergeant Dec. 6, 2008
  • Master Sergeant March 15, 2011
  • Senior Master Sergeant March 20, 2016
  • Chief Master Sergeant Dec. 22, 2019

(Current as of May 2024)