Chief Master Sergeant Ernesto A. Otero Jr. serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 55th Medical Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In this capacity, he is responsible for advising the group commander in leading 621 military, civilians and contractor personnel operating under a $35M budget. The Group provides health service support with extensive outpatient capabilities and is responsible for providing comprehensive health services to maintain the highest degree of readiness in support of contingency war mobilization and Homeland Defense plans for Offutt Air Force Base, 50 mission partners, U.S. Strategic Command and the Air Force Weather Agency encompassing ready reliable care to 51,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, he is the principle advisor on the readiness, welfare, training, career progression and effective utilization of more than 253 health services enlisted members. He serves as the medical group’s primary enlisted representative to the installation and MAJCOM leaders.
Chief Otero is from San Antonio, Texas and entered the U.S. Air Force in September 1995 as Diet Therapist Technician, which included various positions held within Nutritional Medicine, to include the Air Education and Training Command and the Air Combat Command 4D Functional Manager, mentoring the development of 107 Diet Therapy Technicians across 8 installations. Throughout his career, he has filled a myriad of clinical, administrative and strategic roles to include a Military Training Instructor, a full-time Additional Duty First Sergeant, Army Enlisted Advisor for Patient Support Services-Brooke Army Medical Center and the 959th Clinical Support Squadron Superintendent. He has deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
Prior to his current position, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Colorado Market and the 460th Medical Group, Space Base Delta 2, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB, TX
2005 Diet Therapy Specialist Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2006 Joint Field Nutrition Operations Course, Camp Bullis, TX
2007 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2009 Military Training Instructor Course, Lackland AFB, TX
2013 Professional Managers Certificate
2014 Associate Degree, Dietetics and Nutrition, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Associate Degree, Education and Training Management, Community College of the Air Force 2014 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2016 Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, Ashford University, San Diego, CA
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education 2020 Combine Senior Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, AL
2021 Chief Leadership Academy, Gunter Annex, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1995 - October, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. November 1995 - February 1996, Nutritional Food Service Technician Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. March 1996 - February 2003, Diet Therapy Journeyman, Lackland AFB, TX
4. March 2003 - March 2008, Diet Therapy Craftsman, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, GE
5. April 2008 - July 2009, NCOIC of Health and Wellness Center, 27th Special Operations Medical Group, Cannon AFB, NM
6. August 2009 - August 2012, Military Training Instructor, 322nd Training Squadron, San Lackland AFB, TX
7. August 2012 – August 2014, Instructor Supervisor, 322nd Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
8. September 2014 - May 2015, Chief of Nutritional Medicine, 633d Medical Support Squadron, 633d Medical Group, JBLE, VA
9. May 2015 - August 2017 Full-time Additional Duty First Sergeant, 633d Medical Support Squadron, 633d Medical Group, JBLE, VA
10. September 2017 – October 2017, 959th Nutritional Medicine Flight Chief, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX
11. October 2017 – May 2020, Superintendent, 959th Clinical Support Squadron, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX
12. June 2020 – October 2020 Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Commander for Patient Support Services Brooke Army Medical Center JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX
13. October 2020 – July 2022 Senior Enlisted Leader, 460th Medical Group, Space Base Delta 2, Buckley SFB, CO
14. August 2022 – Present Senior Enlisted Leader, 55th Medical Group, Offutt AFB, NE
DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster & three oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Service Medal
MAJOR AWARDS
2001 Nutritional Medicine Team of the Year, 959th Diagnostics & Therapeutics Squadron, Lackland AFB, TS
2002 Honor Guard Member of the Year, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, TX
2002 Honor Guard Member of the Year, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB, TX
2002 AETC Nutritional Medicine Team of the Year, 959th Diagnostics & Therapeutics Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
2004 Honor Guard Member of the Year, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, GE
2004 Small Health and Wellness Center of the Year, 52d Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, GE
2012 Master Military Training Instructor “Blue Rope, 322d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
2012 Support NCO of the Year, 322d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
2013 SNCO of the Year, 322d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
2014 “Blue Rope” of the Year, 322d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX