HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Col. David J. Chaboya, senior materiel leader within Cyber and Networks Directorate, will retire during a ceremony June 24 at 2 p.m. at the Minuteman Commons.
As he reflects on 26 years in the Air Force, Chaboya said he is most proud of the opportunity to serve alongside talented teammates while supporting the Air Force mission.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to spend my career solving hard problems and helping deliver capabilities that make a difference for Airmen,” he said.
Chaboya said one of the more significant changes he’s seen throughout his career is that acquisition is now recognized as a warfighting function, not just a support function.
“We’re part of the capability delivery chain, and the work we do directly enables the warfighter. We’re a critical link in making sure Airmen and Guardians have the capabilities they need to succeed.”
That perspective is reflected in the mission of the Enterprise IT and End User Services Division, which delivers critical capabilities used daily across the Department of the Air Force.
The organization provides Enterprise IT as a Service, DAF365 collaboration services, identity and access management, cybersecurity protections, and end-user computing tools that connect Airmen and Guardians to the information required to accomplish their missions.
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chaboya earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University before entering the Air Force in 2000.
Drawn by the Air Force’s technological edge, he built a career spanning operational cyber units, research organizations, headquarters assignments and acquisition leadership roles.
His assignments included cyber operations and incident response at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; software engineering work supporting anti-tamper initiatives; offensive cyber operations leadership; squadron command; special programs at Headquarters Air Force; and acquisition leadership supporting U.S. Transportation Command before arriving at Hanscom in 2023.
Throughout his career, Chaboya said mentorship and teamwork shaped both his development and leadership approach.
“People believed [there was] something in me that I didn’t see in myself,” he said. “That was pretty meaningful to me.”
Under his leadership, the Enterprise IT and End User Services Division strengthened engagement with operational stakeholders while advancing enterprise technology initiatives supporting hundreds of thousands of users across the DAF.
The organization also played a key role supporting artificial intelligence capabilities and enterprise digital services.
“We use that technology ourselves, and we can see the impact when we roll out a new service, provide an upgrade, or deliver a new feature,” said Chaboya.
As he prepares for retirement, Chaboya hopes his legacy encourages technical professionals to pursue leadership opportunities while remaining connected to the work they enjoy.
“You can be a technical leader in the Air Force, and you don’t have to do that someplace else,” he said.
Following retirement, Chaboya plans to remain in the local area temporarily and take time with family before determining his next chapter.