AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes November-December 2020 1 Defense Acquisition: November-December 2020 AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes General Officer Announcement rapidly changing and complex security environment, the sec- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (AUG. 7, 2020) retary said. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper announced today that the president has made the following nomination: Air Force Fortunately, he added, Space Command has been in Ray- Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson for appointment to the rank of mond’s capable hands, and that will continue with Dickinson. general, with assignment as vice chief of space operations, U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Thompson is cur- As Spacecom’s top officer, Raymond pushed joint warfighting rently serving as vice commander, Air Force Space Command excellence in the space domain by focusing on the organiza- (redesignated U.S. Space Force), Pentagon, Washington, D.C. tion, training, and equipping of our nation’s finest space pro- fessionals, Esper said. General Officer Announcement DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (AUG. 14, 2020) Dickinson, prior to becoming Spacecom’s deputy commander, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper announced today that commanded the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Com- the president has made the following nomination: Air Force mand, Army Forces Strategic Command, and the Joint Func- Maj. Gen. James C. Dawkins Jr., for appointment to the rank tional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, of lieutenant general with assignment as deputy chief of staff, a seminal experience that has equipped space operations in Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters a joint environment, Esper said. United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Co- lumbia. Dawkins is currently serving as director, Global Power ‘’Jim Dickinson is a man of enormous character. And in this Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force particular job, he’s going to need every ounce of that charac- (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Pentagon, Washing- ter, because he’s going to have to continually render his best ton, District of Columbia. military advice to the secretary of defense and the president in times of crisis in good times and bad times,’’Army Gen. Mark Space Command Leadership Changes Hands A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (AUG. 21, 2020) Terri Moon Cronk ‘’Jim Dickinson’s foot will now be on the accelerator, pedal- For decades, the world has enjoyed the freedom to operate in ing,’’ Raymond said of his Spacecom successor. ‘’Thank you space, and today, billions of people worldwide rely on space- for serving so closely with me over the past six months, and based capabilities. ‘’Yet we now find that space has become I couldn’t be more excited. There is no one more qualified to highly contested, and the gains the United States possesses serve as commander in chief of Space Operations.’’ are threatened,’’ Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said at the U.S. Space Command change-of-command ceremony in ‘’I am truly humbled and deeply honored to assume command Colorado Springs, Colorado. of your Space Command … I am thankful to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense, the president Army Gen. James H. Dickinson succeeded Space Force Gen. of the United States, and our congressional leader for the trust John W. ‘’Jay’’ Raymond as Spacecom commander, the 11th and confidence they have placed in me to lead our nation’s and newest DoD combatant command. Raymond, the chief of newest combatant command in its role to protect, defend, space operations, had also led Spacecom since its inception. and advance our nation’s interest in space,’’ Dickinson said. ‘’[As] we continue to push the limits of science and innovation, AMC Welcomes New Commander we recognize that our competitors are seeking new ways to AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS (AUG. 21, 2020) exploit our systems and to undermine our military advantage,’’ Tech. Sgt. R.J. Biermann Esper said. ‘’We know, for example, that China and Russia are SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.—Air Mobility Command wel- weaponizing space through the development of anti-satellite comed its new commander during a ceremony at Scott Air missiles, directed energy, weapons and more—all designed to Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 20. The ceremony marked a historic hold the United States and allied space systems at risk. They Air Force first with back-to-back female generals commanding have turned a once peaceful arena into a warfighting domain.’’ a major command. Space power will be essential in any future conflict. The Na- Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost succeeded Gen. Maryanne tional Defense Strategy underscores the importance of mod- Miller during the ceremony, officiated by Chief of Staff of the ernizing our space capabilities to effectively respond to this Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. Defense Acquisition: November-December 2020 2 AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes Army Gen. James H. Dickinson, newly appointed commander of U.S. Space Command, addresses attendees during the change- of-command ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Aug. 20, 2020. Photo by Lewis Carlyle Brown began by thanking Miller for her outstanding leadership Air Force and the Defense Department’s sole female four-star during her two years in command. leader. “What a fast-paced two years it’s been,” Brown said. “Soon “There is no one more qualified and ready to take the reins after taking command, Maryanne recognized the work ahead of Air Mobility Command than Jackie,” Brown said. “We take and shifted focus at the speed of relevance based on the Na- great comfort in knowing you and your Airmen are ready to ex- tional Defense Strategy.” ecute global reach, faster, farther, and better than ever before.” In the early months of 2020, Miller led AMC through a new, Addressing AMC for the first time as commander, Van Ovost unique period in the world’s history against an unseen foe. thanked Airmen physically and virtually present for their steadfast efforts to achieve mission success. “By leveraging innovation and a whole lot of resolve, Air Mobil- ity Command answered the nation’s call, generating and flying “You are the reason Air Mobility Command continues to our most critical missions while also safeguarding our Airmen provide our combatant commanders unrivaled rapid global and families,” Brown said. “Air Mobility Command delivered mobility,” Van Ovost said. “As a command, we will build upon millions of COVID-19 test swabs around the world.” these successes as we aggressively implement the National Defense Strategy through the unique mission sets we fulfill Brown detailed other innovations the command was respon- for our nation.” sible for conceiving to support COVID-19 response operations, such as the Negatively Pressurized Conex. He also praised the Van Ovost has years of command experience organizing, train- command for endlessly executing rapid global mobility, which ing, and equipping Mobility Air Forces for America. he’s confident will continue into Van Ovost’s command. “From the flightline to the front-line, from the cockpit to the Hours before the ceremony, Van Ovost was promoted to gen- clinic, we will develop leaders of character with a natural bias eral, making her the fifth female general to ever serve in the for action and a competitive, curious, and innovative mind- set,” she said. “We will grow Airmen who are resilient, multi- 3 Defense Acquisition: November-December 2020 AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes Schaefer Promoted to Three-Star General Officer AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND (AUG. 10, 2020) Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., Air Force Materiel Command commander, speaks to the audience about the dedication and career of Lt. Gen. Carl Schaefer, Air Force Materiel Command deputy commander, prior to his promotion to lieutenant general Aug. 7 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This accomplishment is significant, as it restores a three-star deputy commander to AFMC, in alignment with other Air Force major commands. This also allows him to receive a promotion, while serving in the same position. Photo & caption by Darrius Parker capable, and digitally-adept—instinctively exploiting advances Command team. Our Mobility Air Force stands alone as the in data, computing, and information technologies—and armed best the world has ever seen.” with the specific skills to deliver into the future.” Miller, who retires after more than 39 years of service, received Air Mobility Command is the air component of United States the Distinguished Service Medal for her outstanding leader- Transportation Command, a unified, functional combatant ship of AMC. In her last speech as commander, she thanked command which provides support to the nine other U.S. her Airmen for their service and sacrifices. combatant commands, the military services, defense agen- cies and other government organizations for a wide array of “To the Air Mobility Airmen around the world, thank you for joint mobility missions. the work you do every day to fortify our national security,” she said. “You serve at the heart of this nation … You inspired Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, USTRANSCOM commander, me … Each and every day of my command, I was driven. I was spoke about his experience with AMC Airmen and welcomed driven by your excellence.” Van Ovost to the command during the ceremony. As AMC commander, Van Ovost is responsible for employ- “This is about the great Airmen who comprise Air Mobility ing and integrating all Mobility Air Forces composed of nearly Command, postured and employed globally, 24/7,” Lyons said. 107,000 Total Force Airmen along with nearly 1,100 aircraft. “I am AMC’s biggest fan … I stand in awe of this Air Mobility AMC sustains America’s military operations worldwide through its airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, Defense Acquisition: November-December 2020 4 AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes Gen.