Chief Master Sgt. Babatunji Akande
Senior Enlisted Advisor, Defense Contract Management Agency

Chief Master Sergeant Babatunji A. Akande is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Defense Contract Management Agency, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.  In this capacity, he advises the director on the health, welfare, professional development and utilization of the agency’s joint enlisted force.  The agency consists of more than 10,000 civilian and military personnel who execute worldwide contract management responsibilities, covering more than 10,000 contractor locations, and authorizing more $1 billion in contractor paymentes every business day. 

Prior to this position, Chief Akande was the Squadron Senior Enlisted Leaders, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Edwards AFB, CA, where he oversaw the execution of Operational Testing and Evaluation programs for various platforms to include B-1s, B-2s, B-21s and B-52s.

Chief Akande enlisted in February 1998, and entered the Aircraft Avionics career field.  He earned two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force. The first one was in Applied Science in Avionics System Technology in 2012, and the second in Education and Training Management in 2014. He also earned a Professional Management Certificate in 2014.

Chief Akande’s military schools include Airman Leadership School, Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Military Training Instructor Course, Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy and the Chiefs Leadership Course.

His assignments span the Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, and the Air Force Global Strike Command. He served as the Radar Section Chief, 552d Component Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK, Instructor Supervisor, 322d and 324th Training Squadrons, Joint Base Lackland, San Antonio, TX, where he earned the coveted Master Military Training Instructor (Blue rope), and ultimately, the 2016 Air Force Military Training Instructor of the Year award. While stationed at Dyess AFB, TX, he was a Production Superintendent and Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent for the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and held the Fabrication Flight Chief and Squadron Superintendent positions, at the 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron.  During these periods, Chief Akande was part of a leadership that led 169 Airmen to Al Udeid Air Base in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and INHERENT RESOLVE, securing 380 combat sorties that postured United States military forces for Syria exit. Their accomplishments resulted to the end of the B-1s from deployment operations in the Middle East.

Chief Akande’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

 (Current as of Oct 2023)