CMSgt Jonathan M. Popovich is the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 1st Weather Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In this position, he leads, mentors, and develops over 950 officer, enlisted, and civilian Airmen assigned to 6 geographically separated squadrons across the globe, responsible for executing continuous weather operations to ensure resource protection and flight safety while delivering actionable environmental intelligence to fulfill combatant commander requirements. Further, he serves as the principal advisor to the group commander on organizational structure, training, professional development, and disciplinary matters to ensure personnel are organized, trained, and equipped to provide decision-quality forecasts, threat assessments, and mission briefings supporting 542 installations across the Department of Defense.
Chief Popovich entered active duty from Fort Wayne, Indiana in July 2000. His background includes wide-ranging functional experience in Operational Weather Squadrons, executing weather support to Special Operations Forces and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance communities, serving as a Staff Weather Officer to the Army, and performing duties on a Major Command staff. Additionally, he served four years in a Developmental Special Duty position as a First Sergeant. His assignments include bases in Germany, Nebraska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and North Carolina. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 14th Weather Squadron, Asheville, North Carolina.
EDUCATION
2004 Airman Leadership School, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2014 Associate of Applied Science in Meteorology, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, by correspondence 2015 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2017 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Bachelor of Science in Management, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Office Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2024 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2001 - March 2003, Weather Forecaster, USAFE Operational Weather Squadron, Sembach Air Base, Germany
2. July 2003 - March 2005, Special Operations Forces Weather Operations Center, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
3. March 2005 - July 2008, National Intelligence Community Weather Operations Center, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
4. August 2008 - August 2011, Forecast Supervisor, 17th Operational Weather Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
(September 2010 - April 2011, Aviation Forecaster, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Edwin Andrews AB, Philippines)
5. September 2011 - April 2015, Flight Chief, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
6. May 2015 - September 2016, First Sergeant, 693d Intelligence Support Squadron and 693 ISR Group Staff, Ramstein AB, Germany
7. September 2016 - June 2019, First Sergeant, 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
8. August 2019 - February 2021, Detachment Chief, Detachment 2, 1st Weather Squadron, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
(March 2020 - August 2020, Weather Flight Chief, 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Bagram, Afghanistan)
9. March 2021 - July 2022, Manager, Weather Standards and Training, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
10. August 2022 – June 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 14th Weather Squadron, Asheville, North Carolina
11. June 2024 - Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, 1st Weather Group, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with “C” device
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2016 HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA First Sergeant of the Year
2018 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama 2020 1st Weather Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for Army Weather Support