Chief Master Sergeant Ryan J. Cote

State Command Chief MeANG - (ME) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) Augusta

 

CMSgt Ryan J. Cote is assigned to Joint Force Headquarters, Maine Air National Guard, Camp Chamberlain, Augusta, Maine. He is the Maine State Command Chief and serves as the advisor to the Adjutant General and staff on matters of health, welfare, morale, professional development and effective utilization of more than 1,067 enlisted personnel assigned to the Maine Air National Guard.

 

Chief Cote grew up in Caribou, Maine and entered the Air Force in August 1998 followed by completion of Electronics Principles and the Secure Communications Systems Apprentice Course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in March 1999. During his nine years of active duty, Chief Cote was stationed at three different bases including an overseas extended long tour in England and a tour to Saudi Arabia where he participated in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. During this time he performed many duties in and outside of his career field including Base Honor Guardsman, Maintenance Control Center Controller, and he was handpicked to serve as Bailiff for a general court martial. After completing his active duty enlistment, he joined the Maine Air National Guard where he deployed to Iraq to participate in Operation New Dawn and Djibouti and Kenya to participate in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Chief Cote recently completed a 1095 Military Personnel Appropriation tour and was pivotal in securing the Maine Air National Guard’s involvement with the 577th Software Maintenance Squadron while performing upgrades to the Distributed Common Ground System AN/GSQ-272, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance weapons system. His work and expertise led to a savings of over $3 Million for the Air Force. Prior to his current position, Chief Cote was the Group Superintendent, 101st Maintenance Group, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Bangor, Maine.

 

Chief Cote worked for a two-way radio company and internet service provider after leaving active duty where he learned to climb towers and work on cable and antenna systems.  After that he worked in information technology for a federal job training program and did network support for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Limestone, Maine.  Currently, Chief Cote is a Field Technology Officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information Technology.  In addition to his full time work, Chief Cote uses his military learned skills in electronics to run sound equipment and provide computer support for a local church and figure skating club. He currently resides in Caribou with his wife and two daughters that support his service with the Air National Guard that frequently takes him away from home.      

 

EDUCATION

2002   Airman Leadership School RAF Feltwell, England

2003   Associate of Applied Science Degree, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2007   Associate of Applied Science Degree, Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2010   Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2011   Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.

2013   Leading Self and Teams, Dale Carnegie Course, DFAS Limestone, Maine

EDUCATION CON’T.

2014   How to Coach Employees to Peak Performance, Dale Carnegie Course, DFAS Limestone, Maine

2016   Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Distance Learning Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2017   Lean 6 Sigma Green Belt, DFAS Limestone, Maine

2018   Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Leadership Experience, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2021   Chief’s Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., virtual in-residence course

2021   Bachelor of Arts Degree, Business Management, minor in IT and Project Management, University of Maine, Presque Isle, Maine

 

ASSIGNMENTS

1.     August 1998–October 1998, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

2.     October 1998–March 1999, Student, Technical Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas

3.     March 1999–March 2002, Secure Communications Systems Journeyman, 55th Communications Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska (September 2001–November 2001, Computer Maintenance Technician, 320th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom, Eskan Village, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

4.     March 2002–March 2006, Computer, Network, Switching, and Cryptographic Systems Craftsman, 422nd Air Base Squadron, Royal Air Force Croughton, England

5.     March 2006–September 2007, Instructor, Network Infrastructure Systems Course, 338th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi

6.     September 2007–August 2009, Network Infrastructure Systems Craftsman, 265th Combat Communications Squadron, South Portland Air National Guard Station, Maine

7.     August 2009–June 2016, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Cyber Transport Systems, 265th Combat Communications Squadron, South Portland Air National Guard Station, Maine (December 2010–June 2011, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Technical Control Facility, Operation New Dawn, 447th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Sather Air Base, Baghdad International Airport, Iraq)

8.     June 2016–September 2019, Superintendent, Cyber Operations Branch, 265th Combat Communications Squadron, South Portland Air National Guard Station, Maine (March 2016–August 2019, Superintendent, Depot Cyber Fielding Team, 577th Software Maintenance Squadron, South Portland Air National Guard Station, Maine)

9.     September 2019–February 2020, Flight Chief, Plans and Resources, 265th Combat Communications Squadron, South Portland Air National Guard Station, Maine

10.   February 2020–August 2021, Group Superintended, 101st Maintenance Group, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine (August 2020–January 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, Communications Directorate, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti and Camp Simba, Kenya)

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters

Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

Humanitarian Service Medal

STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Academic Achievement Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1998 Top Graduate, Electronics Principles Course

2002 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, RAF Feltwell, England

2018 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Leadership Experience, Maxwell AFB, AL

2019 Air National Guard Region 1 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Chief Master Sergeant Feb. 20, 2020

 

(Current as of August 2021)