Jose Antonio Diaz Jr.

Introduction

Jose Antonio Diaz Jr. is a retired United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), accomplished military leader, security operations supervisor, and experienced Command and Control professional with more than 22 years of military service and extensive experience in federal government operations, emergency management, personnel supervision, operational readiness, and organizational leadership.

Throughout his career, Diaz has demonstrated a commitment to public service, operational excellence, mission accomplishment, and the development of high-performing teams. His professional experience spans military aviation operations, special operations support, federal civilian service, private-sector security management, and commercial aviation.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Human Resources, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, and an Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Management from the Community College of the Air Force.

His career has taken him across the United States and internationally, including operational deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, and Djibouti. His experience includes coordinating time-sensitive military operations, supporting senior leadership decision-making, managing crisis response procedures, and maintaining command situational awareness in high-pressure environments.

Following his military retirement in October 2024, Diaz transitioned his military expertise into civilian security and operational leadership, continuing to apply the principles of accountability, readiness, teamwork, and decisive leadership.

Military Career

Diaz began his Air Force career on June 4, 2002, entering the Command Post career field. Over the following two decades, he advanced through progressively responsible leadership and operational assignments, ultimately achieving the senior enlisted rank of Senior Master Sergeant.

His career centered on Command and Control (C2), a mission-critical function responsible for maintaining operational awareness, communicating command directives, coordinating responses to emergencies, and ensuring that senior commanders receive timely and accurate information.

His responsibilities included supervising Command Post personnel, coordinating aircraft and mission reporting, monitoring operational developments, managing emergency notifications, executing established checklists, and maintaining communications with commanders, operational agencies, and higher headquarters.

Major Military Assignments

93rd Air Control Wing — Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

Served in Command Post operations, developing foundational expertise in military communications, operational reporting, emergency response coordination, and command support.

Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command — Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

Supported headquarters-level Command and Control activities, reporting processes, and operational communication requirements.

920th Rescue Wing — Patrick Air Force Base, Florida

Supported Command Post functions associated with rescue operations, aviation mission awareness, emergency communications, and operational readiness.

482nd Fighter Wing — Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida

Served in senior Command Post leadership positions, including Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Command and Control Operations and Command Post Superintendent.

In these positions, Diaz supervised personnel, managed daily operational activities, maintained mission readiness, oversaw emergency action procedures, and ensured the timely communication of critical operational information.

Operational Deployments

Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq | 2005–2006

Operation Iraqi Freedom. Served in a deployed operational environment supporting military mission coordination and Command and Control activities.

Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait | 2017

Supported deployed Air Force operations, mission reporting, command communications, and operational coordination.

Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti | 2021

Served as a Senior Enlisted Leader during Operation Octave Quartz, providing leadership, personnel oversight, and operational support in a strategically significant overseas environment.

These deployments strengthened Diaz's experience in joint military environments, operational risk management, multinational coordination, leadership under pressure, and the execution of complex missions.

Federal Civilian Service

Air Reserve Technician (ART) Program | 2007–2024

Alongside his Air Force Reserve service, Diaz built a substantial federal civilian career through the Air Reserve Technician program, which integrates civilian expertise with military readiness responsibilities.

From 2007 through 2014, he served at the GS-09 level. In November 2014, he advanced to GS-11, continuing in federal civilian service until November 2024 and reaching GS-11 Step 7.

His work included Command Post operations, personnel supervision, training, readiness management, operational reporting, compliance with Air Force instructions, and coordination with military leadership.

This dual-status career required a strong understanding of both federal civilian personnel requirements and military operational standards.

Special Operations Command Experience

United States Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
Contractor | November 2024 – 2026

Following his Air Force retirement, Diaz transitioned into a contractor position supporting Special Operations Command South, where his operational experience and Command and Control background contributed to mission support involving Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

His experience in this environment involved operational awareness, mission support coordination, command communications, and the disciplined management of time-sensitive information.

This assignment expanded his exposure to regional security operations, joint military coordination, and the unique operational requirements associated with special operations organizations.

Private-Sector Security Leadership

Allied Universal — Shift Supervisor
October 2026 – Present
Visa Headquarters, Latin America and Caribbean operations

Diaz currently serves as a Shift Supervisor with Allied Universal, assigned to Visa's corporate operations supporting the Latin America and Caribbean region.

In this position, he applies his military leadership and emergency management experience to corporate security operations, incident response readiness, personnel supervision, and the protection of people and facilities.

His responsibilities and professional development include familiarization with Quick Reaction Checklists (QRCs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), emergency and disaster response processes, hostile intruder procedures, and security operations coordination.

He brings a Command Post perspective to corporate security, emphasizing accurate reporting, situational awareness, clear communication, procedural compliance, and effective decision-making during developing incidents.

His long-term professional objectives include advancement to Site Supervisor, Operations Manager, or Account Manager, where he can contribute his military experience and business education to broader organizational leadership responsibilities.

Commercial Aviation Experience

Delta Air Lines | 1999–2002

Before beginning his Air Force career, Diaz worked for Delta Air Lines at Boston Logan International Airport in passenger service and airline operations.

His duties included reservations and ticketing, international passenger check-in, gate operations, passenger boarding, jetway coordination, customer assistance, and on-the-job training.

This experience established an early foundation in customer service, aviation operations, regulatory compliance, communication, and working in a fast-paced transportation environment.

AirTran Airways | June 2006 – August 2007

Diaz subsequently served as a Ramp Agent at Orlando International Airport, gaining additional experience in ground operations, aircraft turnaround support, ramp safety, and coordination within commercial aviation operations.

Together, these positions provided valuable exposure to the aviation industry from both passenger service and ground operations perspectives.

Education and Academic Achievements

Diaz has pursued academic and professional education throughout his career, combining formal university degrees with advanced military leadership development and specialized operational training.

Military Professional Education

• Airman Leadership School (ALS) — 2007
• Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) — 2015
• Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) — 2017
• Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I (SEJPME I) — 2017
• Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (SEJPME II) — 2017
• Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Course 12 — 2017
• Center for Creative Leadership, Leading Strategically — 2018
• Command and Control Operations Leadership Training, Keesler Air Force Base — 2020
• Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Training, Lackland Air Force Base — 2021

His educational background supports expertise in organizational management, strategic planning, human resources, leadership development, operational coordination, and executive decision-making.

Professional Certifications and Specialized Training

Diaz has completed numerous training programs supporting military readiness, corporate security, emergency management, and supervisory leadership.

His current professional development interests also include the Project Management Professional (PMP), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and International Association of Emergency Managers Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentials.

These are professional development goals rather than certifications already earned.

Professional Skills and Competencies

Command, Control and Emergency Management

Command and Control (C2) operations; emergency action procedures; incident response coordination; operational reporting; crisis communications; situational awareness; mission monitoring; Quick Reaction Checklists; Standard Operating Procedures; continuity of operations; operational readiness; disaster response; and time-sensitive decision support.

Leadership and Personnel Management

Team supervision; senior enlisted leadership; personnel accountability; mentoring and coaching; workforce coordination; performance oversight; training management; leadership development; organizational communication; conflict resolution; and team readiness.

Corporate Security and Protective Operations

Security operations supervision; emergency preparedness; incident reporting; physical security awareness; hostile intruder response procedures; workplace safety; fire safety; security training; and corporate security SOP compliance.

Business and Organizational Management

Business administration; organizational leadership; human resource management principles; strategic planning; operational process improvement; performance management; organizational development; and administrative coordination.

Military and Joint Operations

Joint operational coordination; military communications; deployment readiness; command reporting; mission support; information management; senior leader briefings; operational risk management; and interagency coordination.

Aviation and Customer Operations

Airline reservations; ticketing; passenger processing; international check-in; gate operations; aircraft ground support; ramp safety; customer service; aviation operations coordination; and employee on-the-job training.

Instruction and Professional Development

Training delivery; instructional coaching; employee onboarding; professional military education; mentoring; procedural instruction; and development of personnel competency.

Military Decorations and Awards

Diaz's military service has been recognized through several decorations and awards, including:

• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters

These awards reflect his service across operational, deployed, and organizational environments.

Leadership Philosophy

Throughout his career, Diaz has embraced a leadership philosophy centered on service, accountability, professional development, and operational excellence.

His approach emphasizes leading by example, preparing personnel for complex challenges, maintaining high professional standards, and creating an environment where individuals understand their responsibilities and the importance of teamwork.

Having served as both a military senior enlisted leader and civilian supervisor, he recognizes that effective leadership requires more than authority. It requires trust, communication, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to develop others.

His military experience has shaped his belief that preparation, discipline, and clear procedures are essential to effective crisis response, while his academic education has strengthened his understanding of the human and organizational factors that contribute to long-term success.

Personal Background and Family

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Diaz is a devoted father and husband who places significant importance on family, education, personal responsibility, and lifelong learning.

He is married to Kayrusan Núñez Garcia and is the father of two children, Joseph Isaiah Diaz and Arianna Deborah Diaz.

His experiences as a father, military leader, and working professional have reinforced his appreciation for perseverance, resilience, mentorship, and the importance of building a meaningful legacy for future generations.

He also maintains a strong interest in technology, artificial intelligence, history, aviation, science, and the future of human innovation.

As the creator and host of Beyond the Brief, a podcast exploring technology, humanity, history, and emerging ideas, Diaz continues to pursue opportunities to share knowledge, encourage thoughtful discussion, and connect with audiences beyond his professional field.

Career Vision and Future Aspirations

As Diaz continues his civilian career, his professional focus remains on expanding his leadership responsibilities within corporate security, emergency management, and operational management.

His immediate goal is to excel in his supervisory responsibilities with Allied Universal and develop a comprehensive understanding of Visa's security and operational environment.

Over time, he seeks advancement into Site Supervisor, Operations Manager, or Account Manager positions, applying his extensive military leadership experience, federal service background, and graduate business education to organizational success.

He also maintains an interest in doctoral-level education, further professional certifications, and opportunities to mentor emerging leaders.

Professional Legacy

Jose Antonio Diaz Jr.'s career represents more than two decades of service, leadership, and professional growth.

From his early days in commercial aviation to his progression through the United States Air Force's senior enlisted ranks, his work in Special Operations Command support, and his transition into corporate security leadership, he has consistently pursued opportunities to serve, lead, and improve the organizations entrusted to him.

His combination of military operational expertise, federal civilian experience, graduate business education, international deployment experience, and corporate security knowledge provides a foundation for continued advancement in leadership and management.

His professional identity is defined by service, operational readiness, adaptability, and a commitment to developing people and organizations.