Gen. Stephen N. Whiting is the Commander, U.S. Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.

As the Commander of U.S. Space Command, General Whiting is responsible for defending U.S. and Allied interests in the space domain while providing space-enabled combat effects to joint warfighters around the globe. He exercises combatant command authority over Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Guardians operating ground and space-based systems around the world.

General Whiting is a 1989 distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He is a space operations officer and has commanded the 13th Space Warning Squadron; the 614th Air and Space Operations Center and Joint Space Operations Center; the 21st Space Wing; and the Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force.

General Whiting’s staff assignments include positions at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; U.S. Space Command; U.S. Strategic Command; the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group; the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense; Headquarters Air Force Space Command; and Headquarters U.S. Space Force.

Prior to his current position, General Whiting was the Commander, Space Operations Command.

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Lieutenant General Gavin A. Lawrence assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on 20 November 2025. In his role, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Army’s logistics enterprise.

Upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1995, Lawrence was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps.

Lieutenant General Lawrence has held several key staff and joint assignments to include Supply and Services Officer, Combined Joint Task Force-82 (Afghanistan); Support Operations Officer, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon, Washington D.C.; Director of Readiness, Strategy and Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon, Washington D.C.; Deputy Chief of Staff, Director of Logistics, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg; and Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Lieutenant General Lawrence’s command assignments include the Headquarters and Distribution Company for 225th Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Command, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 25th Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks; Commander, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

His combat and operational service include one deployment to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and three deployments to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), and Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 OLC). He has earned the Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and Parachute Rigger Badge.

His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from USMA, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from U.S. Naval War College and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College where he successfully completed the Advanced Strategic Arts Program. He completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program and University of North Carolina’s Institute for Defense and Business LOGTECH Executive Program. Lieutenant General Lawrence is also a graduate of the Combined/Joint
Force Land Component Commander Course and Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course.

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Major General Kevin F. Meisler became the U.S. Army Materiel Command Chief of Staff and Assistant Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Affairs in September 2024.

Major General Meisler is a native of Middletown, New Jersey. He commissioned
into the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer in 1994 from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science.

Major General Meisler transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserve in 1999.

Major General Meisler has commanded at all levels to include Commanding General, 311th Signal Command (Theater) in Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Commanding General, 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Group Commander, 211th Regional Support Group in Corpus Christi, Texas; Battalion
Commander, 257th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) in Gainesville, Florida and Bagram, Afghanistan; Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion, 485th Regiment in Orlando, Florida; Company Commander, A Company, 2d Battalion, 485th Regiment in Jacksonville, Florida; and Commander, HHD, 5th Brigade (Health Services), 108th Division (Institutional Training) in Jacksonville, Florida.

Other assignments include: Chief of Staff, 335th Signal Command Theater in East Point, Georgia; Deputy Commanding Officer, 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics (G4), 84th Training Command; Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (G3/5/7), 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary); Joint Ops/Plans Officer, Joint Warfighting Center, USJFCOM; Battalion Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment; Battalion Operations Officer, 2d Battalion, 485th Regiment; Terminal Operations Officer and Vessel Chief, 1186th Transportation Brigade (Terminal); Deputy Director, TRADOC Pre-Command Course; Executive Officer, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment; and Platoon Leader, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 72d Armor Regiment.

Major General Meisler is an Army Logistician with the Joint Planner and Operational Contract Support skill identifiers. He is a member of the Transportation Corps Regimental Association and was awarded the Ancient Order of Saint Christopher. He has a Master of Art in Management from Webster University; St. Louis, Missouri, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Meisler is a Certified Project Management Professional.

Major General Meisler’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1 OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (8 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (5 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award (2nd Award), the Army Superior Unit Award, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.

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Kevin Jones was named ITID’s Deputy Assistant Director in June 2025. In this capacity, Mr. Jones manages the FBI’s enterprise networks, data centers, communication and collaboration platforms, 24/7 Help Desk, and IT services across all locations world-wide.

Before joining ITID, Mr. Jones served as the Section Chief of the FBI’s Enterprise Cybersecurity Section within the Information Technology Applications and Data Division, overseeing the defense of the FBI from cyber threats. In this capacity, Mr. Jones managed the internal cybersecurity operations of the FBI, including the 24/7 Security Operations Center, engineering and maintenance of cybersecurity tools and networks, change management processes, and consolidated logging efforts.

Mr. Jones joined the FBI in 2012 as a Business Analyst in the FBI’s Internal Advisory Group (IAG). He served as an internal consultant supporting a wide variety of enterprise projects improving FBI operations, reducing administrative burden, and deploying investigative technical tools. In 2015 as a Project Manager, Mr. Jones led two FBI Priority Initiatives to develop and deploy new IT services to facilitate intelligence sharing across the FBI and Intelligence Community. In 2018, Mr. Jones was promoted to Supervisor in IAG where he managed a portfolio of strategic projects and team of analysts. While in this role, he led the multi-year Field Office Size and Structure initiative, an effort to develop and implement a model and repeatable process for allocating personnel resources across all 56 FBI field offices, for which he received the National Intelligence Professional Award for Human Capital. In 2019, Mr. Jones was promoted to be Unit Chief of the FBI’s Resource Analysis Unit where he was responsible for overseeing the FBI’s $6 billion compensation and benefits budget, enterprise-wide personnel allocation, and key staffing initiatives.

In May 2021, Mr. Jones transitioned to the FBI’s new headquarters campus in Huntsville, AL after being selected as the Unit Chief of the Budget Formulation and Analysis Unit within the Finance and Facilities Division. He was responsible for the creation, submission, and guidance of the FBI’s budget requests from internal formulation through external approval and Congressional enactment.

Mr. Jones earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from Furman University and his Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He resides in Huntsville with his wife and two daughters.

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Roger Baird is the associate director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Named to the position in August 2024, Baird leads the execution and integration of the center’s business operations, mission support enterprise functions, and budget management.

In addition, he is a senior adviser in advancing the direction of the center’s future. He also helps manage the center’s 7,000 civil service and contract employees and helps oversee an annual budget of approximately $5 billion. Baird provides executive leadership across Marshall’s mission support areas, as well as the center’s diverse portfolio of human spaceflight, science, and technology efforts, which touch nearly every mission NASA pursues.

Prior to this assignment, Baird served as associate director for operations of Marshall’s Engineering Directorate from 2020 – 2024, after being detailed to the position in 2019. Named to the Senior Executive Service position in March 2020, he provided senior management and leadership expertise for the evaluation of spacecraft, payloads and launch vehicle systems, and the integration of the associated budgets and resources authority for these efforts. He was responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating engineering project management and integration activities in support of Marshall’s programs and projects, and oversaw an annual budget of approximately $550 million, including management of a highly technical workforce of more than 2,500 civil service and contractor employees.

In 2018, Baird was selected as manager of the Engineering Resource Management Office, where he was responsible for advising, coordinating, monitoring, directing and performing work associated with planning, programming, budgeting and managing the Engineering Directorate’s financial, human and infrastructure resources.

Baird brings a wealth of expertise to the role, with 34 years of NASA experience in the areas of engineering design, development, testing, facility and budget management, and strategic workforce acquisition and development. He joined NASA in 1990 as an avionics engineer in Marshall’s Astrionics Laboratory and served in multiple technical leadership positions within the Engineering Directorate’s Space Systems Department, Spacecraft and Vehicle Systems Department, and Propulsion Systems Department.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Baird earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He has received numerous

NASA awards, including an Outstanding Leadership Medal, Exceptional Achievement Medal, and a Silver Snoopy.

Baird and his wife, Pam, have two children and live in Huntsville.

Brice P. McCracken is the Special Agent in Charge of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He was appointed to this position in June 2024 and oversees ATF’s arson and explosives enforcement portfolio including the Certified Explosives Special Bomb Technician Program, Certified Explosives Specialist Program, Explosives/Accelerant Detection Canine Programs,Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) Program, National Response Team (NRT) and all associated training programs.

Prior to this, Mr. McCracken was the Division Chief of the Explosives Research and Development Division at NCETR from December 2023 until June 2024. He was an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Miami Field Division a position that he held from April 2022 until December 2023. Prior to this, Mr. McCracken served as the Chief of the Fire Investigation and Arson Enforcement Division at NCETR from April 2019 to April 2022. Before that, he was an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s San Francisco Field Division. He began his supervisory career as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Fresno, California Field Office, a position he held from June 2013 until April 2017.

Mr. McCracken began his career with ATF in June 1999 as a summer hire in the San Jose, California Field Office. From there he worked as a paid student intern in the Spokane, Washington Field Office until he was hired as a special agent in July 2003. Mr. McCracken’s first assignment as a special agent was in the Tacoma, Washington Field Office. After 5 years in Tacoma, Mr. McCracken transferred to the Joint Support and Operations Center at ATF Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he worked for 3 years. Mr. McCracken then transferred to the Hyattsville, Maryland Field Office where he worked for 2 years before his selection as the Resident Agent in Charge of Fresno. Mr. McCracken was a member of ATF’s Operational Medical Support Program for 6 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

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Dr. James Kirsch was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2019. He serves as the Director for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center. Dr. Kirsch leads a workforce of more than 11,000 engineers, scientists, researchers and support staff in delivering life cycle engineering and advanced technologies as required by the Army’s strategic priorities and support to its Cross-Functional Teams and the Aviation and Missile materiel development enterprise.

Under Dr. Kirsch’s direction, AvMC is responsible for delivering collaborative and innovative aviation and missile capabilities for responsive and cost-effective research, development and life cycle engineering solutions. Many Department of Defense and federal agencies, as well as academic, corporate and industrial researchers and developers, seek AvMC’s science, technology, and engineering expertise, which is characterized by its talented and technically proficient workforce and unique test bed capabilities.

Prior to his detail as acting director, Dr. Kirsch was the Director for the DEVCOM AvMC Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate (S3I).

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

April 2023 – Present, Acting Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

February 2020 – April 2023: Director, Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

July – October 2022, Acting Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

July 2019 – February 2020: Director, Systems Simulation, Software and Integration, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

February 2019 – June 2019: Deputy Director (A), Systems Simulation, Software and Integration

May 2018 – February 2019: Deputy Director, Weapons Development and Integration Directorate (WDI), U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC)

November 2017 – May 2018: Acting Director, WDI

October 2016 – November 2017: Deputy Director, WDI

April 2016 – October 2016: Division Chief, Missile Technical Management Division, Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army AMRDEC, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

September 2009 – April 2016: Director, Systems Engineering Directorate and Chief Engineer, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

October 2008 – September 2009: Deputy Director, Systems Engineering Directorate, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

August 2007 – October 2008: Assistant Project Manager for Technology Insertion, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

January 2000 – August 2007: Lead Engineer, Weapons Sciences Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

March 1987 – July 2000: Research Electronics Engineer, Weapons Sciences Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

COLLEGE:

• Ph.D., Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2004
• M.S., Electronics Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1991
• B.S., Electronics Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1987

CERTIFICATIONS:

• DAWIA Level III, Engineering (formerly System Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering)
• DAWIA Level II, SPRDE Program Systems Engineer
• Army Acquisition Corps
• INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional with DoD Acquisition Specialty

AWARDS AND HONORS:

• Superior Civilian Service Award, April 2016
• 2015 Defense Acquisition Workforce Achievement Award for Engineering
• 2015 AAE Excellence in Leadership Award: Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year
• Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, July 2012
• Army Research, Development, & Engineering Achievement Award, 1991 and 2000

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:

• Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
• Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA)

MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:

• Optical Engineering
• Applied Optics

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Colonel Robert A. Hilliard assumed command of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Oct. 2, 2025. The Huntsville Center executes more than 3,000 contracts valued at more than $2 billion annually in engineering, construction and technical services in support of strategic national programs, installation facility repair and renewal construction, national energy resilience programs, nationwide environmental and ordnance remediation programs, Army medical facilities design oversight, and overseas contingency operations.

Prior to command at Huntsville Center, Col. Hilliard served as Southern European Task Force, Africa Command Engineer.

Command assignments include Vicksburg District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 4th Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, and C Company, 70th Engineer Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas. COL Hilliard also served as the Mississippi Valley Division Deputy Commander in Vicksburg, Mississippi and Senior Engineer Observer/Controller at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

His civilian education includes a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering from Auburn University, a master of science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Science and Technology, a master of science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University (Bozeman), and a master of science degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. Col. Hilliard’s military education includes the Engineer Basic and Advanced courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Missouri.

Colonel Hilliard has various awards and decorations in addition to the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab. Other awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2), Bronze Star Medal (3), Meritorious Service Medal (5), Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3), Joint Achievement Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

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Mr. James Edmonds serves as the Chief of Staff for the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires, (PAE Fires). As the Chief of Staff, Mr. Edmonds is responsible for leading and synchronizing the entire PAE Fires staff. The Chief of Staff works diligently behind the scenes to solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with personnel issues before they are brought to the Commanding General (CG) Level.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

Deputy Project Manager Integrated Fires Mission Command (2020-2025)

Deputy Product Director/Product Lead for the Stinger Based Systems Product Office. (2018-2020)

Deputy Product Manager, Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (2014-2018)

Assistant Product Manager, Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Product Office (2009-2014)

Contracting Specialist supporting the Lower-Tier Project Office Patriot Programs (2008-2009)

Assistant Product Manager, Patriot Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Program(2007-2008)

EDUCATION:

• Master of Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma
  Command and General Staff College

• Defense Acquisition University Senior Service College Fellowship

• Program Manager’s Course

AWARDS AND HONORS:

• Meritorious Service Medal
• Army Commendation Medal
• Air Force Accommodation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal
• Commanders Award for Civilian Service
• Army Civilian Achievement Medal

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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, Mr. 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.

Mr. De Fatta’s 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.

Mr. 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, Mr. De Fatta’s 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.

Mr. 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.

Mr. 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.

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