SMSgt Daniel D. Sprague is the Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa’s (USAFE-AFAFRICA) Warfare Center (UAWC), Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. He provides policy advice, mentorship, and recommendations on matters affecting 298 military and civilian personnel assigned to the Warfare Center. The UAWC is the premier Joint & Coalition integrated, multi-domain warfighter training provider and policy maker for readiness in USAFE and AFAFRICA. The UAWC prepares Joint, NATO and Partner Nations’ warfighters to conduct innovative full-spectrum operations against a near-peer threat through strategic, operational and tactical exercises, advanced training, professional education, and policy.
SMSgt Sprague was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and enlisted in the Air Force in September of 2001. He completed Radio Operator training in December 2001 and since then was assigned to bases in Maryland, Florida, Louisiana, Japan, Germany and deployed to Iraq, Curacao, Italy, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Korea. Throughout his career, he has served in a broad spectrum of positions as a Radio Operator, Human Intelligence Collector, Combat Crew Communications Training Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), Section Chief for Southeast Information System Security Managers (ISSM), Combat Crew Communications Functional Manager, and Senior Enlisted Leader for Special Operations Wing Communications Directorate. Prior to his current position, SMSgt Sprague was the Superintendent, Theater Operations Division, Communications Directorate Headquarters (HQ) USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
EDUCATION
2001 Radio Operator Training, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), TX
2005 United States Army Human Intelligence Interrogator Course, Fort Huachuca, AZ
2007 Airman Leadership School, Andrews AFB, MD
2011 Associate of Applied Science, Information Systems Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, FL
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint PME I Correspondence Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2016 Bachelor of Art, Intelligence Studies, American Military University, Charles Town, West VA
2020 Enterprise Management Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, FL
2022 USAF Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL
2023 Cyber 300, Wrigth-Patterson AFB, OH
2024 Enlisted Joint PME II Correspondence Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2001-December 2001, Student, Radio Operator, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
2. January 2002-May 2005, Radio Operator Journeyman, 789th Communications Squadron, Andrews AFB, MD
3. May 2005-December 2005, Student, Human Intelligence Interrogator, Fort Huachuca, AZ
4. December 2005 – December 2006, Human Intelligence Interrogator, Abu Ghraib, Iraq
5. January 2007- March 2007, Radio Operator Journeyman, 89th Communications Squadron, Andrews AFB, MD
6. March 2007-August 2008, Combat Crew Communications Journeyman, 6th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL
7. August 2008-March 2011, Combat Crew Communications, Training NCO, 6th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL
8. March 2011-July 2012, Assistant NCOIC, Combat Crew Communications, 6th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL
9. July 2012-March 2013, NCOIC, Combat Crew Communications, 6th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL
10. March 2013-October 2014, NCOIC, SCCM, Defense Intelligence Agency, MacDill AFB, FL
11. October 2014-February 2016, NCOIC, Authorizations and Assessments, Defense Intelligence Agency, MacDill AFB, FL
12. February 2016-March 2017, Section Chief, Southeast ISSM, Defense Intelligence Agency, MacDill AFB, FL
13. March 2017-August 2019, Manager, Combat Crew Communications, HQ Air Force Global Strike Command A3/6, Barksdale AFB, LA
14. August 2019-January 2021, Section Chief, Fixed Communications, 353d Special Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
15. January 2021-April 2022, Flight Chief, Communications, 353d Special Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
16. April 2022-September 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, Wing A6, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
17. September 2023-May 2024, Superintendent, Theater Operations Division, HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA A6, Ramstein AB, Germany
18. June 2024 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center, Einsiedlerhof AS, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with one service star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2021 – 353d Special Operations Support Squadron SNCO of the 2nd Quarter, Kadena AB, Japan
2020 – AFSOC Information Dominance SNCO of the Year, Hulbert Field, FL
2020 – Air Force Special Operations Command Squadron of the Year Award, Kadena AB, Japan
2020 – 353d Special Operations Support Squadron SNCO of the 4th Quarter, Kadena AB, Japan
2020 – 353d Special Operations Support Squadron SNCO of the 1st Quarter, Kadena AB, Japan
2012 – 6th Air Mobility Wing Cyber Surety NCO of the Year, MacDill AFB, FL
2010 – 6th Operations Support Squadron NCO Professional Performer, MacDill AFB, FL