Anthony J. Mastalir
Official portrait, 2024
Bornc. 1972 (age 51–52)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1994–2021 (Air Force)
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
RankBrigadier General
Commands held
United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific
Awards
Defense Superior Service Medal
Alma mater
Northwestern University (BS)
Spouse(s)Danielle Patrice Bailey

Anthony Joseph Mastalir (born c. 1972) is a United States Space Force brigadier general who has served as the commander of the United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific since 2022. He previously served as commander of Space Launch Delta 30 from 2019 to 2021.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Mastalir is the son of Joseph Mastalir and Suzanne Russell.[1] In 1990, he graduated from Preble High School, where he was one of the top students.[2][3]

Mastalir graduated from Northwestern University in 1994 with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. He later earned several masters degrees from the George Washington University, Naval War College, and Air University. He also spent a year as an Air Force research fellow at the RAND Corporation.[4]

Military career

Left to right: Col Mastalir, then-Col DeAnna Burt, and CMSgt John F. Bentivegna completing contribution paperwork for the Air Force Assistance Fund, 2016.

On June 18, 1994, Mastalir entered the United States Air Force when he received his commission as a second lieutenant. His first assignment was as an academic processing officer at an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment in Chicago, Illinois. He then a two-month undergraduate space and missile training at the 392nd Combat Training Squadron. In September 2005, he was reassigned to the 5th Space Operations Squadron at the Onizuka Air Station, California. He spent four years there in several capacities, including as satellite procedures officer, flight director, and satellite operations instructor.[4]

Mastalir then went back to the 392nd Combat Training Squadron in 1999 for his missile initial qualification training. Afterwards, he was assigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana to operate the LGM-30 Minuteman III missile as combat crew commander, instructor, and flight commander for the 564th Missile Squadron. In March 2001, he was selected to work as an Air Force intern assigned to the Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. After a year an intern, he was reassigned as a flight commander in the 4th Space Control Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.[4]

Mastalir (left) speaks to Lt Gen Stephen Whiting (right), 2021.

From 2004 to 2006, Mastalir was assigned to Air Force Space Command, first as chief of space control requirements then as a speechwriter and aide-de-camp to General Lance W. Lord. After his AFSPC tour, he spent two years studying at the College of Naval Command and Staff and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies before promoting to lieutenant colonel.[4]

After promoting to lieutenant colonel, Mastalir was assigned his first command tour, assuming command of the 595th Operations Support Squadron in June 2008. While in that position, he also served as the chief of integration at the Space Innovation and Development Center. After two years of command, he was reassigned to the 595th Space Group as the deputy group commander. He then went on to serve as an Air Force intern at the RAND Corporation for a year.[4]

Mastalir was promoted to colonel in July 2012 and was assigned at the Joint Staff as the chief of the space and missile division. In July 2014, he became the assistant deputy director for global policy and partnerships. After his four-year stint at the Joint Staff, he was transferred to Schriever Air Force Base as the vice commander of the 50th Space Wing. In July 2017, he was reassigned as the deputy director of the Space Security and Defense Program.[4]

Mastalir, outgoing Space Launch Delta 30 commander, addresses the SLD 30, during a change of command ceremony, 2021.

On July 12, 2019, Mastalir took command of the 30th Space Wing, at Vandenberg Air Force Base.[5][6] He transferred to the Space Force on May 14, 2021, on the same date that the 30th Space Wing was redesignated as Space Launch Delta 30.[7] In May 2022, he returned to Vandenberg as special assistant to Combined Force Space Component Command Commanders Major Generals DeAnna Burt and Douglas Schiess.[8]

Mastalir played an active role in standing up Space Force component field commands. After relinquishing command of Space Launch Delta 30, he was reassigned as director of space forces of the United States Air Forces Central Command, working to standup the United States Space Forces Central (USSPACEFORCENT) in Qatar. USSPACEFORCENT was supposed to be the first Space Force component command to a geographical combatant command, but it became the next priority after the Space Force component command to the United States Indo-Pacific Command as priorities changed.[9] On 22 November 2022, he took command of the first Space Force component field command, the United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific.[10]

In April 2022, Mastalir was nominated for promotion to brigadier general.[11][8]

Awards and decorations

Mastalir is the recipient of the following awards:[4]

Command Space Operations Badge
Basic Missile Operations Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Air Staff Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
 Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Bronze star
 Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze service star
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon

Personal life

Mastalir is married to Danielle Patrice Bailey of Atlanta, Georgia. The couple has a daughter and a son.[12][13]

Dates of promotion

2nd Lt Olivia Gilliagham (left), one of the first members of the U.S. Space Force, swears in Mastalir (right) into the Space Force during a transfer ceremony, May 14, 2021.
Rank Branch Date
Second Lieutenant Air Force June 18, 1994
First Lieutenant July 15, 1996
Captain July 15, 1998
Major December 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2008
Colonel July 1, 2012
Colonel Space Force ~September 30, 2020
Brigadier General October 1, 2022

Writings

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony J. Mastalir.
  1. ^ "28 Jul 1990, Page 8 - Green Bay Press-Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "1 Apr 1990, Page 1 - Green Bay Press-Gazette at". Newspapers.com. April 1, 1990. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "29 Apr 1990, 124 - Wisconsin State Journal at". Newspapers.com. April 29, 1990. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Brigadier General Anthony J. Mastalir". United States Space Force. November 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Jacobson, Willis (July 12, 2019). "Col. Mastalir takes command of 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB; base leaders talk future of space, plovers". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Col. Mastalir takes command of 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB; base leaders talk future of space, plovers". July 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "Vandenberg AFB gets new U.S. Space Force name". www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil.
  8. ^ a b "General Officer Announcements".
  9. ^ "Space Force seeks a bigger voice in military operations". June 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Hadley, Greg (October 25, 2022). "Space Force to Get New CSO, INDOPACOM Component in November, Vice Chief Says". Air Force Magazine.
  11. ^ "PN2050 - 5 nominees for Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. May 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Mastalir, Anthony J. (August 2009). "The US response to China's ASAT test - An International Security Space Alliance for the future" (PDF). Air University. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "1 Mar 2008, 12 - Green Bay Press-Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
Military offices Preceded byGeorge R. Farfour Commander of the 595th Operations Support Squadron 2008–2010 Succeeded by??? Preceded byEugene Caughey Vice Commander of the 50th Space Wing 2015–2017 Succeeded byJacob Middleton Jr. Preceded by??? Deputy Director of the Space Security and Defense Program 2017–2019 Succeeded byTodd R. Moore Preceded byMichael S. Hough Commander of the 30th Space Wing, later Space Launch Delta 30 2019–2021 Succeeded byRobert A. Long Preceded byRobert J. Schreiner Director of Space Forces of the United States Air Forces Central Command 2021–2022 Succeeded byChristopher S. Putnam New office Commander of the United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific 2022–present Incumbent
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