# Shay Warakomski

Zachary Shay Warakomski (born October 15, 1975) is a United States Space Force brigadier general who served as the commander of Space Base Delta 1. He now serves as the assistant deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear.

## Early life and education

Zachary Shay Warakomski was born on October 15, 1975, in Lilburn, Georgia. His grandfather was a United States Army officer who served during the Vietnam War.
Warakomski was nominated to the United States Naval Academy by Senator Paul Coverdell. In 1994, he graduated from Parkview High School and entered the United States Air Force Academy. He also received the 1994 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup, an award given to graduating seniors in Atlanta for academic excellence, school and community activities, and leadership.
* 1998 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
* 1999 Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
* 2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
* 2004 Master of Business Administration, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
* 2007 Advanced Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
* 2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
* 2010 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
* 2012 Air War College, by correspondence
* 2017 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

## Military career

In 2024, Warakomski was nominated and confirmed for promotion to brigadier general. On July 18, 2024, he was promoted to brigadier general by Major General Douglas Schiess. On June 21, he took over as assistant deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear for Major General James E. Smith who became the vice director for joint force development at the Joint Staff.

### Assignments

1. May 1998–November 1998, Deputy Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 437th Communications Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. 2. November 1998–February 1999, student, Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, Miss. 3. February 1999–May 2000, Commander, Plans and Programs Flight, 437th Communications Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. 4. May 2000–May 2003, Chief, Systems Integration, Directorate of Operational Plans and Joint Matters, DCS, Air and Space Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 5. May 2003 – April 2005, Combat Infrastructure action officer, Networks Division, Directorate of Communications and Information, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 6. April 2005–August 2006, Action Officer, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters PACAF, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 7. August 2006–August 2008, assistant director of Operations, 4th Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo. 8. August 2008–February 2009, Chief Military Satellite Communications Systems, Capabilities Division, Directorate of Communications and Information, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 9. February 2009–December 2009, Commander's Speechwriter, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo. 10. January 2010–December 2010, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 11. April 2011–June 2013, Commander, 56th Communications Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz. 12. June 2013–July 2014, Executive Assistant to the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 13. July 2014–January 2015, Action Officer, Cyberspace Division, Directorate for C4/Cyber, Joint Staff J6, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 14. January 2015–July 2016, Special Assistant to the chairman, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 15. July 2016 – June 2017, student, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 16. June 2017 – June 2018, deputy director, Cyberspace Plans and Strategy, 24th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force), Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas 17. June 2018–May 2019, Director, Cyberspace Operations – Integrated Planning Element, U.S. Transportation Command, and U.S. Cyber Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill. 18. May 2019–June 2021, Commander, 375th Communications Group, Scott AFB, Ill. 19. June 2021–July 2022, Commander, Peterson-Schriever Garrison, Peterson AFB, Colo. 20. August 2022–July 2023, Deputy Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, Vandenberg AFB, Cal. 21. July 2023–June 2024, Senior Cyber Officer, Headquarters United States Space Force, Washington, D.C. 22. June 2024–present, Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, Headquarters United States Space Force, Washington D.C.

## Awards and decorations

Warakomski is the recipient of the following awards:
* Master Cyberspace Operator Badge
* Basic Space Operations Badge
* Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge
* Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
* Space Staff Badge
* Legion of Merit
* Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
* National Defense Service Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
* Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
* Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
* Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
* Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
* Air Force Training Ribbon

## Dates of promotion

| Rank | Branch | Date |
| Second Lieutenant | Air Force | May 27, 1998 |
| First Lieutenant | Air Force | May 27, 2000 |
| Captain | Air Force | May 27, 2002 |
| Major | Air Force | December 1, 2007 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Air Force | October 1, 2012 |
| Colonel | Air Force | January 1, 2019 |
| Colonel | Space Force | ~September 30, 2020 |
| Brigadier General | Space Force | June 7, 2024 |