New Senior Enlisted Leader takes reins at C3BM

Published Aug. 31, 2026
By Richard Blumenstein
DAF PAE C3BM Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Oxton took responsibility as the Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management’s senior enlisted leader from Senior Master Sgt. James Sweet during a ceremony at the Minuteman Commons, here, Aug. 28.

Brig. Gen. Joshua Williams, PAE for C3BM, presided over the ceremony. Williams spoke about his decision to shift C3BM’s leadership structure from a “top four” to a “top five;” positioning the SEL front and center alongside Williams.

Brig. Gen. Joshua Williams speaks during the Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management’s change of responsibility ceremony at the Minuteman Commons, here, Aug 28. During the ceremony Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Oxton assumed the role of C3BM’s senior enlisted leader from Senior Master Sgt. James Sweet. Williams is the PAE for C3BM. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).

“C3BM is an organization that relies heavily on our brilliant civilians and contractors,” Williams said. “But we also have uniformed Airmen and Guardians in the ranks who deal with unique military situations: deployments, family dynamics, and operational stresses that a lot of folks in this room might not fully understand. We needed someone who could read a room, listen, and provide that crucial perspective.

“That is why it matters that we now have a chief at C3BM,” he said. “When you bring in a chief master sergeant, you are bringing in the top 1% of the enlisted force.”

Before assuming his new role, Oxton previously served as the SEL for the 726th Air Control Squadron and 336th Communications Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He has multiple deployments to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Oxton speaks during the Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management’s change of responsibility ceremony at the Minuteman Commons, here, Aug 28. During the ceremony Oxton assumed the role of C3BM’s senior enlisted leader from Senior Master Sgt. James Sweet. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).

“I’m excited to be part of an organization that’s moving so quickly to get capabilities to the warfighter,” Oxton said. “Everyone has been super welcoming.”

Williams also thanked Sweet for his hard work and dedication during his time at C3BM. He remarked on the numerous efforts Sweet led and their impact on C3BM’s ability to deliver lethal capability and develop capable Airmen.

“A perfect example of that square-peg culture and violent execution is what our outgoing senior enlisted leader, Senior Master Sgt. James Sweet, has built,” he said. “We took a hard look at traditional skill gaps and bypassed them by establishing an internal Air Force training pipeline. We are certifying Airmen to industry standards and developing them into multidisciplinary assets — product managers, cybersecurity experts, user interface/user experience designers, and software developers.”

Sweet welcomed Oxton to his new position and talked about the extensive selection process involved with choosing the next SEL for C3BM.

“When we were looking for the next SEL to be part of C3BM, there was a list of chiefs who were eligible for the position,” Sweet said. “Resumes say one thing, but how people treat other people is another thing. You're getting someone who has been in the game longer than I have, has just as much operational experience as I have, and he's a people person.”

Senior Master Sgt. James Sweet speaks during the Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management’s change of responsibility ceremony at the Minuteman Commons, here, Aug 28. During the ceremony Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Oxton assumed the role of C3BM’s senior enlisted leader from Sweet. (Official Air Force photo by Morgan Brown).

Oxton outlined what the Airmen, government civilians and contractors within C3BM can expect from him in his new role.

“I’m here to be everyone’s chief,” he said. “Enlisted, officer, civilian, or contractor – I am here for you. If you have a barrier, I want to knock it down. If you need help solving a problem, I want to help you solve it.”

C3BM is responsible for managing the DAF Battle Network, which is the integrated system-of-systems connecting sensor, effector, and logistics systems providing better situational awareness, faster operational decisions, and decisive direction to the force.