Chief Master Sergeant Diego “Yoshi” Yoshisaki is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. In this position, he advises Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs leadership on matters influencing the welfare, professional development, and effective direction of the Total Force assigned to the organization. Additionally, he is the Department of the Air Force Career Field Manager for the Enlisted International Affairs community, overseeing a team across seven Combatant Commands enabling international partnerships, capacity building, and interoperability.
Chief Yoshisaki entered the Air Force in February 2002, embarking on a multi-capable career that has seen him assume various roles both within and outside of the Air Force Medical Service. He has held security cooperation and international affairs assignments at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Tex.; Lajes Field, Portugal; Air Forces Southern at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; and Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space at Tyndall AFB, Fla. He has also contributed to missions in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Chief Yoshisaki is an International Health Specialist, Advanced Air Advisor, and actively serves as a Language Enabled Airman Program scholar under the Air Force Culture and Language Center. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Prior to his current role, Chief Yoshisaki served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Strategic Plans and Requirements, Security Cooperation, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
EDUCATION
2002 Health Care Management, Technical School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2007 Associate of Applied Science, Health Care Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Airman Leadership School, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB (JBSA-LAFB), Texas
2008 Bachelor of Science in Business Management, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona
2009 Security Cooperation Management Training, Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies (DISCS), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Latin America Course Orientation, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2011 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis Mo.
2012 Associate of Applied Science, Intelligence Studies, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs Certificate, DoD International Affairs Security Cooperation Agency, Washington D.C.
2014 Inter-American Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course I, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Language Immersion Training, Bridge Language and Education School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016 European Portuguese Language Competency Certificate, Bristol School/Ministry of Ed., Angra do Heroismo, Portugal
2017 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (non-resident), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Translation/Interpretation Course, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
2017 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course II, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2017 Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, United States Agency for International Development, Washington D.C.
2017 Security Cooperation Management Policy, Programs & Planning, DISCS, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Air Advisor Academy, Joint Base (JB) McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2018 Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response Certification, Harvard University, Boston, Mass. 2018 Fieldcraft Training for the Uncertain Environment, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2020 Fundamentals of Global Health Engagement, Uniformed Services University, McDill AFB, Fla
2021 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (in-residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 SC Planning, Oversight & Execution Management Certification, Defense SC Agency, Washington D.C.
2022 Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
2023 Chief Leadership Course, (in-residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2002 – April 2002, Student, Basic Military Training, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
2. April 2002 – August 2002, Health Care Management Technical Training, Sheppard AFB, Tex.
3. August 2002 – September 2005, Med Information Technology (IT) Technician, 99th Medical Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. September 2005 – October 2009, NCOIC Med IT and Executive Staff Technician, 59 MDW, JBSA-LAFB, Texas (March 2006 – April 2006, Pediatric Team Lead Translator, Soto-Cano Tegucigalpa, Honduras/JTF Bravo Air Base, August – December 2006, Aeromedical Staging Facility, Andrews AFB, Md., and April 2008 – September 2008, Aeromedical Staging Facility, Andrews AFB, Md.)
5. October 2009 – November 2013, International Student Manager/Registrar Assistant Manager, IAAFA, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
6. November 2013 – June 2016, Flight Chief Resource Management Office, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (February – March 2015, Language Immersion Training, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
7. June 2016 - June 2017, Political Affairs Liaison, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
8. June 2017 – August 2020, Superintendent, Twelfth AF (Air Forces Southern) Command Surgeon General, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9. September 2020 – June 2023, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Strategic Plans and Requirements, First AF (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space), Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. June 2023 – Present, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 AETC International Military Student Officer Team of the Year, JBSA-Randolph AFB, Tex.
2012 Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year IAAFA, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
2014 Honor Graduate, Inter-American Noncommissioned Officer Academy, JBSA-LAFB, Tex.
2018 Lt Gen P.K. Carlton Outstanding International Health Specialist of the Year Achievement Award
2018 SNCO of the Year, Numbered Air Force Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant // June 2023
(Current as of July 2023)