Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Vanessa Riley-Moore enlisted in the United States Air Force in January 1981 after graduating from Dothan High School in Dothan, AL. While in the Air Force she held positions as an Orderly Room Clerk and Education Specialist. While stationed at Norton AFB, CA, SMSgt Riley-Moore was selected to host the Air Force “Tops in Blue” competition and chosen to act in an Air Force movie, entitled “Disgraced”, which involved an Airman being court-martialed for using illegal drugs. In October of 1985, SMSgt Riley-Moore left the Air Force and joined the Georgia Air National Guard as a traditional guardsmen at the 129th Tactical Air Control Squadron in Kennesaw, GA. During 1985 – 1996, SMSgt Riley-Moore was simultaneously employed full-time with several agencies, including the Atlanta Police Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Investigative Service and the Internal Revenue Service. During 1996-1998, she was selected for an Active Duty Special Work Tour with the Counterdrug Directorate at the National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA and subsequent Title 10 Statutory Tours with 1st Air Force, Tyndall AFB, FL and the NGB Counterdrug Directorate. In 2001, SMSgt Riley-Moore resumed her state level military career in Georgia in various career broadening positions. SMSgt Riley-Moore applied for a position with the National Guard Bureau, Counterdrug Office in November 2006 and was selected as the NCOIC, Drug Demand Reduction.

SMSgt Riley-Moore holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management from St. Leo College, an A.A.S. in Information Management from the Community College of the Air Force, and A.A.S in Education & Training Management, from the Community College of the Air Force. She is also a graduate of the NCO Preparatory Course; NCO Academy; Senior NCO Academy;Administrative Specialist Course; Education Specialist Course; and the Air National Guard Instructor’s Certification Course.