Richard P. De Fatta

Deputy to the Commanding General
United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC)

Mr. Richard De Fatta was selected to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2013 and serves as Deputy to the Commanding General, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC). As the senior civilian in the command, he provides leadership supporting the Commanding General’s priorities, initiatives, and directed areas of responsibilities. Mr. De Fatta provides oversight and direction for USASMDC’s Technical Center and Center of Excellence, Army Space and Missile Defense programs, command acquisition, proponency, contracting, personnel, and resource management.

Additionally, De Fatta has extensive professional leadership experience, in both government and contractor positions, specializing in acquisition: development, testing, production, fielding, sustainment, and life-cycle support of major weapons systems and integration of emerging technologies.

His previous assignment was Director, Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence, USASMDC, responsible for Space, High Altitude, Strategic Missile Defense Doctrine and Training, Concept Development, Decision Support and the Army Capability Managers for Space and High Altitude and Strategic Missile Defense, from March 2017 to February 2022. Previous SES assignments include Director of Capability Development and Integration Directorate, USASMDC’s Future Warfare Center. He also served as acting Technical Center Director and Air and Missile Defense Director; responsible for developing technology and providing support in the areas of directed energy, interceptors, research and advanced concepts, space, advanced hypersonic weapons and the Reagan Test Site.

De Fatta retired from U.S. Army active duty in 2005 and spent more than seven years in senior contractor positions providing systems engineering, integration, test, program management, and technical support to Department of Defense programs. A member of the Army Acquisition Corps since its inception, his military assignments included: Project Manager, Cruise Missile Defense Systems (formerly SHORAD); Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology; Product Manager, U.S. Medium Extended Air Defense System; Director, Kwajalein Missile Range, USASMDC; and Product Manager, Combat Vehicle Signature Management Program. His first acquisition assignment was as a Research & Development Coordinator in the Missile Command’s Pershing Project Office.

De Fatta graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and later earned a Master of Science in Engineering Physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. He attended the U.S. Army War College resident fellowship at the University of Texas, Austin.

De Fatta’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge, and Parachutist Badge. He is also the recipient of the Army Space and Missile Defense Association Technical Achievement Award and National Defense Industrial Association Defense Technical Award.

He and his wife Michelle have been married for more than 40 years, have a son and daughter, and four grandchildren.