Chief Master Sergeant Nikki M. Drago is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for 15th Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He advises the commander on the health, welfare, morale, mission effectiveness, and proper utilization of over 47,000 personnel and 800 aircraft across 13 Wings and three Direct Reporting Units. 15 AF is the Air Force’s largest Numbered Air Force, which organizes, trains and equips its subordinate commands to prepare for and execute their wartime missions.
Chief Drago entered the Air Force in May 1997. He graduated from the security specialist course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in September 1997. His background includes various roles throughout the spectrum of the Security Forces career field, to include serving as a Group Superintendent and on staff at the Center and Major Command level. His assignments include bases in North Dakota, Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, Italy, Iceland, Azores, South Korea, England and Germany. He has deployed in support of Operations Joint Forge, Allied Force, Juniper Shield, United Assistance, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
2001 Airman Leadership School, Kapaun AB, Germany
2002 Associate degree in police science, Community College of the Air Force
2007 Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice administration, Columbia Southern University, Cum Laude, Orange Beach, Ala.
2007 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2008 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course
2011 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Integrated Defense Command and Control Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2012 Master of Business Administration degree in military operations, Trident University, Magna Cum Laude, Cypress, Calif.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2014 Security Forces Advanced Officer Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2015 Inspector General Executive Leadership Course, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
2016 Secretary of the Air Force, Office of the Inspector General Training Course, Lansdowne, Va.
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I and II Correspondence Course
2017 Command Chief Master Sergeant Training Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 AF Continuous Process Improvement Senior Leader Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland-Kelly, Texas
2021 Regional Seminar, China and the Far East, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2023 Strategic Mindset Seminar, Flatter Incorporated, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C
2024 Executive Leadership Program, Georgetown University, Washington D.C
2024 Regional Seminar, Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2025 Regional Seminar, Latin America, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1997 – July 1997, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. July 1997 – September 1997, Student, Security Specialist Technical School, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. September 1997 – May 2000, Tactical Escort Team Leader, 91st Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. (December 1998 – April 1999), Security Controller, 16th Expeditionary Air Base Group, San Vito, Italy
4. May 2000 – October 2002, NCOIC, Resources and Custody Response Force Supervisor, 831st Munitions Support Squadron, Ghedi AB, Italy
5. October 2002 – October 2005, NCOIC, Installation Security, NCOIC, Physical Security and Security Controller, 85th Security Forces Squadron, Keflavik NAS, Iceland
6. October 2005 – July 2009, Flight Sergeant and NCOIC, Personnel Reliability Program,91st Security Forces Group, Minot AFB, N.D. (October 2007 – April 2008), Quick Reaction Force Flight Sergeant, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq
7. August 2009 – August 2010, Flight Sergeant, 51st Security Forces Squadron, Osan AB, South Korea
8. September 2010 – September 2012, Senior Enlisted Leader and Operations Superintendent, 65th Security Forces Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores (January 2011 – August 2011), Superintendent, Theater Security Cooperation Division, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic
9. October 2012 – July 2015, Senior Enlisted Leader, 423d Security Forces Squadron, RAF Alconbury, England (August 2014 – February 2015), Senior Enlisted Leader/Anti-terrorism Officer, 324th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and 69th Reconnaissance Group, Detachment 2, NAS Sigonella, Italy
10. July 2015 – May 2017, Chief Enlisted Manager, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Inspector General, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. June 2017 – July 2018, Group Superintendent, 91st Security Forces Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
12. August 2018 – January 2020, Chief Enlisted Manger, Protection Services Division, Headquarters Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland-Kelly, Texas
13. January 2020 – September 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
14. September 2021 – July 2023, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
15. July 2023 – June 2025, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
16. June 2025 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 15th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Alaska Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with silver and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with silver leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 91st Space Wing Security Forces Flight Level Airman of the Year
1999 91st Security Forces Squadron Airman of the Year
2000 831st Munitions Support Squadron Airman of the Year
2001 831st Munitions Support Squadron Security Forces Support Staff Airman of the Year
2004 85th Security Forces Squadron NCO of the Year
2005 48th Fighter Wing Security Forces Support Staff NCO of the Year
2005 U.S. Air Forces in Europe American Legion Spirit of Service recipient
2006 91st Security Forces Group NCO of the Year
2006 20th Air Force Security Forces Support Staff NCO of the Year
2007 91st Missile Wing Security Forces Support Staff NCO of the Year
2008 Air Force Space Command Lance P. Sijan recipient
2008 91st Missile Wing Security Forces Flight Level NCO of the Year
2008 Distinguished Graduate and Academic Achievement Award, NCO Academy
2008 Air Force Space Command NCO of the Year
2010 65th Security Forces Squadron SNCO of the Year
2011 65th Air Base Wing SNCO of the Year
2013 U.S. Air Forces in Europe SNCO of the Year
2013 423d Security Forces Squadron, Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Medium-Size Unit
2014 423d Security Forces Squadron, Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Medium-Size Unit
2020 48th Security Forces Squadron, Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Large-Size Unit
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant – Dec. 1, 2015
(Current as of July 2025)