Chief Master Sergeant Vincent J. Hnat is the Senior Enlisted Leader to the Air Force Integrated Resilience Directorate, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon. He is the principle enlisted advisor to the Director for the Department of the Air Force’s Integrated Resilience Office on all matters relating to the strategic planning and communication, research and development, evaluations and analysis, and policy implementation of Air Force integrated resiliency programs for optimization of the Human Performance of over 600,000 Total Force Airmen. He also serves as a key advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the Air Force Senior Enlisted Leader Council. Chief Master Sergeant Hnat graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations. He graduated from basic training in 2003. He completed the Precision Measurement Apprentice course at Biloxi AFB, MS. Upon graduation, he was placed on assignment to the 314th Maintenance Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. While subsequently stationed in Japan, Chief Hnat worked as Quality Assurance evaluator within the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron. He later retrained as a Flight Engineer on the HH-60G Pave Hawk Helicopter and served in multiple operational Combat Rescue billets. Chief Master Sergeant Hnat’s previous assignment was as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force at Nellis AFB. CMSgt Hnat has numerous joint deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, and various named contingency operations in CENTCOM, AFRICOM and USINDOPACOM as a Special Mission Aviator. Additionally, he has served as a Senior Enlisted Leader for a Personnel Recovery Task Force, performing a wide variety of joint combat rescue and close air support missions. CMSgt Hnat is a Chief Career Enlisted Aviator with more than 2,000 flight hours and over 500 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2003 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2004 Precision Measurement Equipment Apprentice School, Biloxi AFB, MS
2007 Airman Leadership School Kadena AB, Japan (Residence)
2009 Flight Engineer Initial Qualification, Kirtland AFB, NM
2012 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, TX (Residence)
2013 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Air University, Maxwell AFB AL (Correspondence)
2014 Associates Degree, Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Associates Degree, Electronic Systems, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Phase One (Correspondence)
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Phase Two (Correspondence)
2019 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Air University, Maxwell AFB (Residence)
2019 Career Enlisted Aviator Senior Leadership Course, Lackland AFB, TX
2019 Enterprise Management Course – Joint Special Operations University (Correspondence)
2022 Inside Washington Legislative Seminar - The Washington Center 2022 Bachelor of Science – International Relations – Central Michigan University (Magna Cum Laude) 2022 Professional Innovation Certification – University of Michigan Ross School of Business
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Feb 2004 – Mar 2005: Precision Measurement Apprentice, Little Rock AFB, AR
2. Mar 2005 – Mar 2008: Quality Assurance Evaluator, Kadena AB, Japan
3. Mar 2008 – Nov 2012: Instructor Flight Engineer HH-60G 55th RQS Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
4. Nov 2012 – Jun 2016: Superintendent Operations Gp Stan/Eval, 347 RQG, Moody AFB, GA.
5. Jun 2016 – Jul 2018: Flight Chief, 33rd RQS, Kadena AB, Japan
6. Jul 2018 – Jul 2020: Senior Enlisted Leader, Detachment 2, 88 TES, Duke Field, FL
7. Jul 2020 – Jul 2023: Senior Enlisted Leader, CSAR Combined Test Force, Nellis AFB, NV
8. Jul 2023 – Present: Senior Enlisted Leader, Air Force Integrated Resilience, Pentagon, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with twenty-one oak leaf clusters and “V” Device
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and “C” Device
Air & Space Achievement Medal Air Force Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with four devices
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Airman Maintenance Professional of the Year – Little Rock Air Force Base
2007 Distinguished Graduate & Academic Achievement Award, Airman Leadership School
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Course
2010 Flight Engineer of the Year, 55th Rescue Squadron
2011 Flight Engineer of the Year, 55th Rescue Squadron
2013 Enlisted Flight Instructor of the Year, 41st Rescue Squadron
2014 Henry “Red” Erwin Outstanding Aircrew Award 347th Rescue Group
2017 SNCO of the Year 33d Rescue Squadron
2018 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award 18th Operations Group
2018 Henry “Red” Erwin Outstanding Aircrew Award 18th Wing
2019 Henry “Red” Erwin Outstanding Aircrew Award 53d Wing
2020 Henry “Red” Erwin Outstanding Aircrew Award 53d Wing
2022 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award 53d Wing
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant: Sep 1, 2023