CMSgt. Michael A. Payuyo is the Senior Enlisted Leader of Space Operations Command’s (SpOC) Mission Delta 4 (MD4). Mission Delta 4 operates and supports three constellations of Overhead persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) for the purpose of conducting strategic and theater missile warning. MD4 provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces, battlespace awareness to Combatant Commanders and technical intelligence for further analysis. MD4 manages weapon system architectures are postured to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment.
As MD4’s Senior Enlisted Leader, CMSgt. Payuyo is responsible for advising the commander on all morale, welfare, and personnel issues affecting a diverse, 11 squadron command. CMSgt. Payuyo is married to Catherine A. Payuyo and they have four children, Adrienne Marie, Naya Elyse, Riley Quinn, and Sabine Ivey.
CMSgt. Payuyo was born on 29 April 1984 in Los Angeles, California. He joined the US Army in July of 2002 and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He attended advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia where he earned his Military Occupational Specialty of 31S (Satellite Communications Systems Operator/Maintainer), today known as 25S. On 27 September 2022, he transferred into the United States Space Force as a Space Operations Superintendent, after 20 years of service to the United States Army.
EDUCATION
The National Security Space Institute AEGIS Course, Army Combatives
The Army’s Basic Leader Course
The Army’s Advanced Leader Course
The Army’s Senior Leader Course
The Army’s Master Leader Course
The Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Courses
The Company Command and First Sergeant Course
Special Operations Command Static Line Jumpmaster Course
Basic Airborne School
Army Space Cadre Phase 1 and Phase 2
Combat Life Saver Course
Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course
The Master Resilience Trainer Course
The Basic Installer Course, and Army Basic Training.
Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University.
ASSIGNMENTS
CMSgt Payuyo has served in multiple leadership positions to include Team Chief, Section Chief, Section Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant, Command Sergeant Major, and Senior Enlisted Leader. CMSgt Payuyo has deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE. CMSgt Payuyo’s duty stations include: 40th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, AZ; 302nd Signal Battalion, Camp Roberts, CA; 2nd NATO Signal Battalion, Naples, Italy; U.S. Army Office of Military Support, National Capital Region; 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Division G-6, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI; 112th Signal Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC; 112th Signal Support Detachment (Special Operations) (Airborne), United States Special Operations Command South, Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL; 53d Signal Battalion (SATCON), Fort Carson, CO, and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, Schriever Space Force Base, CO.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
The Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
The Army Achievement Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Award w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
The Army Superior Unit Award
The Army Good Conduct Medal- 6th Award
The National Defense Service Medal
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars
The Iraqi Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
The NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/ Numeral 4
The Army Service Ribbon
The Overseas Service Ribbon w/ Numeral 3
The NATO Medal
Master Parachutist Badge
Colombian Parachutist Badge
German Parachutist Badge
Army Basic Space Badge
Master Cyber Operations Badge
Army Signal Corps’ Bronze Order of Mercury
(Current as of July 2025)