John F. Bentivegna (born c. December 14, 1976)[2] is a United States Space Force chief master sergeant who serves as the second and current chief master sergeant of the United States Space Force. He previously served as the senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear and senior enlisted leader of Space Operations Command.[3]
John F. Bentivegna
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Official portrait, 2023
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Nickname(s) | B-9 |
Born | c. (1976-12-14) December 14, 1976 (age 47) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.[1] |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force (1994–2020) United States Space Force (2020–present) |
Years of service | 1994–present |
Rank | Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force |
Unit | Space Operations Command 14th Air Force National Reconnaissance Office 50th Space Wing 460th Operation Group 76th Space Control Squadron 527th Space Aggressor Squadron |
Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) |
Alma mater | American Military University (BA) |
Signature | ![]() |
Bentivegna enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1994. From August to October of that year, he went through basic military trainingatLackland Air Force Base, Texas. After that, he was assigned to the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory SchoolatKeesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. From 1995 to 1998, he worked as a precision measurement equipment technician at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.[3]
Bentivegna then shifted to the space operations career field starting as ground systems operator for the Defense Support ProgramatBuckley Air Force Base, Colorado, from 1998 to 2002. From 2002 to 2003, he served as noncommissioned officer in charge for operations training at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska. After that, he was then selected to serve as superintendent for the 527th Space Aggressor SquadronatSchriever Air Force Base, Colorado. He stayed there until 2007, when he was assigned as superintendent for the Mission Management Division at the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado. From 2010 to 2013, he served as superintendent for the 76th Space Control SquadronatPeterson Air Force Base, Colorado.[3]
In October 2010, Bentivegna returned to Buckley Air Force Base and started serving as superintendent for the 460th Operations Group. After that tour, he went back to Schriever Air Force Base in 2015, now as command chief master sergeant for the 50th Space Wing. In 2017, he was stationed at the Pentagon as the chief of the Air Force enlisted force development. From 2017 to 2019, he served as the command chief of the National Reconnaissance Office.[3]
In February 2019, Bentivegna started serving as the command chief of the Fourteenth Air Force and the senior enlisted leader of the Combined Force Space Component Command. On 21 October 2020, during the activation of Space Operations Command, he became the senior enlisted leader of the new field command. In June 2022, he went back to the Pentagon to serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber and nuclear, Lieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman. When Saltzman became the chief of space operations, Bentivegna continued serving the role of senior enlisted advisor to Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt.[3]
Bentivegna was one of five chief master sergeants considered to replace Roger A. Towbermanaschief master sergeant of the Space Force who retired in 2023.[4] On May 5, 2023, General B. Chance Saltzman selected Bentivegna to replace Towberman and serve as the second chief master sergeant of the Space Force. His assignment was announced on May 8, 2023.[5]
Command Space Operations Badge | |
Space Staff Badge |
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by | Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the National Reconnaissance Office 2017–2019 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Command Chief of the 14th Air Force 2019 |
Unit redesignated |
New office | Senior Enlisted Leader of the Combined Force Space Component Command 2019–2020 |
Succeeded by |
New office | Senior Enlisted Leader of Space Operations Command 2019–2022 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear 2022–2023 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force 2023–present |
Incumbent |