Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM) Andrea J. Gates is the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Defense Information Systems Agency, Fort George Meade, Maryland.
In this role, she serves as the principal military advisor to the DISA director and his staff, providing a senior enlisted perspective in a global organization of civilian and military personnel in 18 states and 8 countries that directly supports the president, secretary of defense, joint chiefs of staff, combatant commanders, Department of Defense components, and other mission partners across the full spectrum of operations.
CCM Gates entered the Air Force in November 1989. She has served in positions at all levels of leadership from squadron to major command headquarters levels including Information Manager/Air Force Liaison, Defense Photography School, Pensacola Naval Air Stations, Fla; Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Command Information Management, HQ Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Wing 3A Information Management Functional Manager and Senior Enlisted Advisor, 116th Communications Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga and Chief of Operations Flight and Superintendent, 86th Communications Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany. She began her Command Chief duties as Interim Command Chief, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany, followed by Command Chief, 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark, and prior to this position Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, Cali.
With two special duties, she holds second and third Air Force Specialty Codes as a Military Training Instructor and Defense Administrative Attaché. She has deployed in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Her military schools include Airman Leadership School, Military Training Instructor School, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Senior Noncommissioned Academy where awarded the Distinguished Graduate for all four; Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course, National Defense University, Joint Military Attaché School, Chiefs Leadership Course and was one of the first four enlisted selected for and completed Air War College, Air University.
CCM Gates holds Associate degrees in Applied Science in Information Management and Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force; Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies, University of the State of New York and Dual Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development and Management, Webster University. She also holds Occupational Instructor and Program Manager Certifications and earned the Air Education and Training Command Military Training Instructor Master "Blue Rope" and the Master Instructor Badge.
Her major awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal and Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Other Achievements include 65th Air Base Wing Information Manager of the Year, twice American Forces Information Services Junior Service Member of the Year, 737th Training Group Federal Woman of the Year, 37th Training Wing and Team Lackland Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, NCO Association Senior Enlisted of the Year, San Antonio Excellence in Government Award, Air Combat Command SNCO Information Manager of the Year and Air Force C4 Association, C4 Personnel of the Year.