Chief Master Sgt. Orlando Soto is the Puerto Rico Air National Guard State Command Chief at Fort Buchanan, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Chief Soto serves as the senior enlisted advisor and advocate to the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico and Assistant Adjutant General for Air, overseeing the welfare, readiness, training, professional development, utilization, and standards of all PRANG enlisted personnel. He analyzes, develops, and implements policies and programs affecting recruitment, retention, promotions, awards, and assignments, ensuring alignment with Department of War, National Guard Bureau, and state objectives. He advises senior leadership on enlisted matters, including emergency response, operational tempo, and quality of life. Chief Soto participates in selection and retention boards, mentors senior noncommissioned officers, manages professional military education, and facilitates development opportunities. Additionally, he coordinates joint activities, oversees compliance with directives and regulations, maintains partnerships with international and state programs, and ensures readiness of specialized response units, acting as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader during activations or as directed.
Chief Soto enlisted in June 1990, in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard and graduated from technical training school as an administrative specialist. In March 1996, he joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard as a supply technician. Chief Soto supported OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM while deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2005. Chief Soto served as first sergeant in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard from 2007 to 2015 at the squadron, group, and wing level. In 2015 he was selected as the wing human resource advisor and developed various mentoring programs that established an organizational environment that enabled PRANG members to attain their full potential in achieving the Air National Guard’s quality and operational performance objectives. In 2017, Chief Soto was selected as the 156th Medical Group superintendent, revamping all medical group programs and guiding the medical group through various inspections with outstanding results. He also served as Mission Support Group Superintendent from 2021 to 2023 overseeing the management, training, readiness, and professional development of all enlisted personnel within the group. He ensured effective execution of mission support functions, including personnel, civil engineering, security forces, logistics, and services, while advising leadership on morale, welfare, and operational readiness. Prior to his current position, the chief master sergeant served as the Wing Command Chief and primary advisor to the Commander of the 156th Wing, Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico.
EDUCATION
1988 Commercial Institute of Puerto Rico Junior College, High School Graduate, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996 Bachelor in Business Administration, American University, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
1996 Supply Management Apprentice Course, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
1998 Airmen Leadership School, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fla.
2000 Supply Management Craftsman, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2007 First Sergeant Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2015 Human Resource Advisor Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2017 Chief Master Sergeant Executive Course, National Guard Bureau Readiness Center, Md.
2022 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I & II, by correspondence
2022 DoD Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2024 Command Chief Orientation Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2024 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1990 – July 1996, Administrative Specialist, 480th Military Police Company, Puerto Rico Army National Guard
2. July 1996 – January 2003, Supply Management Journeyman, 156th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
3. January 2003 – March 2007, Supply Management Craftsman, 156th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico (December 2004 – November 2005, Supply Management Craftsman, Balad Air Base, Iraq)
4. March 2007 – March 2010, First Sergeant, 156th Security Forces Squadron, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
5. March 2010 – January 2012, First Sergeant, 156th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
6. February 2012 – April 2015, First Sergeant, 156th Airlift Wing, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
7. April 2015 – February 2017, Human Resources Advisor, 156th Airlift Wing, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
8. February 2017 – September 2021, Superintendent, 156th Medical Group, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
9. September 2021 – September 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 156th Mission Support Group, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
10. October 2023 – February 2026, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 156th Wing, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico
11. March 2026 – Present, State Command Chief Master Sergeant, PRANG, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service with ten oak leaf clusters
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Senior Airman July 3, 1996
Staff Sergeant July 27, 1998
Technical Sergeant Feb. 4, 2003
Master Sergeant Feb. 2, 2007
Senior Master Sergeant March 15, 2012
Chief Master Sergeant Feb. 13, 2017
Command Chief Master Sergeant Oct. 1, 2023
State Command Chief Master Sergeant March 8, 2026
(Current as of March 2026)