US AIR Force Brig. Gen. Steven P. Whitney, named director, space programs SAF/AQ

The chief of staff, Air Force, publishes the assignment of Brig. Gen. Steven P. Whitney, to director, space programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics supervises Air Force research, development, acquisition, and program sustainment activities equaling an annual budget above $60 billion for more than 550 procurement programs.

Before his new position, Brig. Gen. Steve Whitney has been the executive director, operational contract support, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Pentagon, Washington, DC.

Brig. Gen. Whitney graduated in 1992 from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and completed the university’s Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. Through the years, he has served in a wide variety of space system acquisition and operations leadership positions within the Air Force, Joint Staff, and the National Reconnaissance Office. His assignments include serving as a Crew Commander, Spacecraft Engineer, Senior Flight Commander, Program Element Monitor, Director of Engineering, Squadron Commander, Senior Materiel Leader, Program Director, and Program Executive Officer.

EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Master of Arts, Administrative Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Master of Science, Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
2013 Program Managers Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2014 Executive Program Managers Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. April 1993 – July 1996, Defense Support Program and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Crew Commander and Chief, DSP Spacecraft Engineering, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
2. July 1996 – June 1998, Chief, Commanders Action Group and Flight Development System Operations Manager, Space-Based Infrared System Program Office, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
3. June 1998 – June 2000, Air Force Intern, Directorate of Space and Nuclear Deterrence, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and Force Management Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. June 2000 – May 2004, Senior Flight Commander, Chief, Production Division, and Director of Engineering, Air Force Communications Support Facility, White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. May 2004 – June 2005, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. June 2005 – May 2008, Military Satellite Communications Program Element Monitor and Chief, Congressional and Media Affairs, Space Acquisition Directorate, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. June 2008 – July 2010, Commander, Enterprise Operations Squadron, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
8. August 2010 – June 2011, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2011 – July 2013, Chief, Space C4 Branch and Space Lead, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. July 2013 – July 2015, Senior Materiel Leader, Global Positioning System User Equipment Division, Global Positioning Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
11. July 2015 – June 2019, Director, Global Positioning Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
12. October 2018 – June 2019, Program Executive Officer for Space Production, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
13. July 2019 – 16 April 2020, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 2008 – July 2010, Commander, Enterprise Operations Squadron, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2011 – July 2013, Chief, Space/C4 Branch and Space Lead, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
3. July 2019 – 16 April 2020, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general.

MAJOR MILITARY DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Space and Missile Systems Center Company Grade Officer of the Year
1998 Forrest S. McCartney Award for Outstanding Program Management, Air Force Association
2009 National Citation of Honor, Air Force Association
2010 Director’s Circle Award for Leadership, National Reconnaissance Office
2010 Gold Medal for Superior Service, National Reconnaissance Office

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 17, 1993
First Lieutenant Feb. 17, 1995
Captain Feb. 17, 1997
Major June 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 2007
Colonel June 1, 2012
Brigadier General April 2, 2019
(Current as of April 2020)