David D. Thompson
Official portrait, 2023
Nickname(s)DT
Born (1963-02-18) February 18, 1963 (age 60)
Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1985–2020 (Air Force)
  • 2020–2023 (Space Force)
RankGeneral
Commands held
Vice Chief of Space Operations
Awards
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Alma mater
United States Air Force Academy (BS)
Signature
David D. Thompson's voice
Thompson's opening statement at a House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on military readiness
Recorded July 19, 2022

David Dean Thompson (born February 18, 1963) is a retired United States Space Force general who served as the first vice chief of space operations from 2020 to 2023. He served as the vice commander of the Air Force Space Command from 2018 to 2020.

Born and raised in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Thompson entered the United States Air Force in 1985 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. He studied at Purdue University and at Johannes Kepler University Linz as an Olmsted Scholar. A career space operations officer, he has commanded the 2nd Space Launch Squadron, 45th Operations Group, and Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado. He has served assignments in operations, acquisition, research and development, and academia.

In 2018, Thompson was assigned to Washington, D.C. to serve as the liaison of Air Force Space Command to the Pentagon and Congress during the creation of the Space Force. In October 2020, he transferred to the Space Force and assumed as the first vice chief of space operations. He was promoted to general, becoming the second general in the Space Force. He retired from the Space Force in 2023.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, David Dean Thompson was born on February 18, 1963.[1][2] He graduated in Ambridge Area High School in 1981.[3]

Thompson received a B.S. in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1985. In 1989, he received an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He is an Olmsted Scholar, studying at the Johannes Kepler University Linz in Austria. In 2005, he graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with an M.S. in national security industrial policy. He is also a graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course, a Level III-Certified Program Manager, and have attended the Defense Systems Management College, Air War College, and National Defense University as part of his professional military education.[4][5]

Military career

Thompson as a USAFA cadet

Thompson received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) on May 29, 1985.[6]

General Goldfein (left) promotes Thompson (right) to lieutenant general, 2018

From 1985 to 1988, Thompson was assigned at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base, California, as an experimental rocket propulsion engineer and chief of motor/component operations section. After that, he studied for a year at Purdue University. After receiving his graduate from Purdue, he went back to USAFA, now as an instructor of astronautics, assistant professor, and executive officer, for three years from 1989 to 1992. He continued his studies from 1992 to 1995 at the Presidio of Monterey, California and Johannes Kepler University Linz.[5]

In 1995, Thompson returned to the United States, assigned at Space and Missile Systems Center as manager of the Advanced MILSATCOM Program for the MILSATCOM Joint Program Office until 1997. From 1998 to 2002, he was assigned to Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He first served as a spacelift requirements officer and chief of the Spacelift Vehicle Requirements Branch of the major command's headquarters. After that, he served as served as deputy director of General Ralph Eberhart's commander's action group. From 2002 to 2004, he was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, as operations officer and commander of the 2nd Space Launch Squadron.[5]

General Raymond promoting Thompson to general of the U.S. Space Force, 2020

In June 2005, Thompson took command of the 45th Operations Group (45 OG) at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. After two years, he relinquished command of 45 OG and took command of Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado (ADF-C), at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado. He was commander of ADF-C from 2007 to 2009, after which he deployed to Southwest Asia as director of space forces at the United States Air Forces Central Command for a year.[5]

After his deployment, Thompson was promoted to brigadier general and served as vice commander of the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He then went back to AFSPC from 2011 to 2012 as director of air, space, and cyberspace operations. From 2012 to 2015, he was assigned at the United States Strategic Command at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska, first as the deputy director for global operations and then as director of plans and policy.[5]

Thompson receives a briefing at Buckley Space Force Base, 2023

From July 2015 to July 2017, he served as the Air Force Space Command's then-two-star vice commander. That position was then renamed as AFSPC deputy commander in 2017 with Thompson serving as the special assistant to the AFSPC commander. In 2018, the AFSPC planned to revive the vice commander position, turning it into a position for a three-star general after Congress nixed plans on creating a deputy chief of staff for space operations position.[7] On April 4, 2018, he then resumed his previous position as AFSPC vice commander, promoted to lieutenant general.[8]

With the redesignation of the AFSPC as the newly created United States Space Force on December 20, 2019, Thompson retained his position as vice commander of the Space Force. In August 2020, he was nominated for transfer to the Space Force at his current rank of lieutenant general.[9] He was also nominated for appointment to the rank of general[10] and assignment as the first vice chief of space operations.[11][12] He was confirmed by the Senate on September 30, 2020,[10] and assumed rank following day.[13] Thompson assumed office on October 2.[14]

In October 2020, Thompson tested positive for COVID-19 after a family member who he was in contact with tested positive.[15] He was asymptomatic and returned to work on November 9, 2020, after an 11-day quarantine.[16]

Thompson retired from the Space Force on December 14, 2023.[17]

Awards and decorations

Thompson (left) receives the Air Force Association's Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award, 2011

Thompson is the recipient of the following awards and decorations:[13]

Command Space Operations Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge
Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
Basic Missile Maintenance Badge
Space Staff Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
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 two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Reconnaissance Office Distinguished Service Medal (gold medal)[13]
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 Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

An airman unfurls Thompson's positional color, the first for a VCSO, during his promotion ceremony to general, 2020
Rank Branch Date[13]
Second lieutenant Air Force May 29, 1985
First lieutenant May 29, 1987
Captain May 29, 1989
Major August 1, 1996
Lieutenant colonel May 1, 2000
Colonel August 1, 2004
Brigadier general June 18, 2010
Major general October 10, 2013
Lieutenant general April 4, 2018
General Space Force October 1, 2020

Writings

References

  1. ^ Polaris (PDF). Vol. XXVII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1985. p. 84. Retrieved February 21, 2019.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Persons born on 18 February 1963, DAVID ALAN TROXEL to DENO S. MONTEIRO". sortedbybirthdate.com.
  3. ^ Prose, J.D. (June 15, 2019). "Air Force Lt. Gen. David Thompson, an Ambridge native, tours RMU simulation center". Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "David D Thompson" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved December 24, 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ a b c d e "General David D. Thompson". United States Space Force. October 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Schurr, Marjorie A. (June 18, 2019). "Steel foundation: Locally-born general comes home to tell AF story". Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Erwin, Sandra (January 17, 2018). "Air Force to create three-star 'vice commander' post to manage space activities". SpaceNews. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "Air Force establishes Pentagon-based AFSPC vice commander position". af.mil. Retrieved May 22, 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "PN2164 — Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson — Space Force". congress.gov. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "PN2163 — Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson — Space Force". congress.gov. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "General Officer Announcement". defense.gov. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  12. ^ Erwin, Sanra (August 8, 2020). "With Thompson's nomination, U.S. Space Force leadership takes shape". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d "General David D. Thompson". United States Space Force. October 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. ^ Kirby, Lynn (October 4, 2020). "First-ever Vice CSO joins U.S. Space Force". SpaceForce.mil. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  15. ^ Bote, Joshua (October 29, 2020). "Space Force's second-in-command Gen. David D. Thompson tests positive for COVID-19". USA Today. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Cohen, Rachel (August 14, 2021). "Here's what the Space Force's No. 2 officer learned from having COVID-19". Air Force Times. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "VCSO Thompson clap out". DVIDS.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David D. Thompson.
Military offices Preceded byCary C. Chun Commander of the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado 2007–2009 Succeeded byStephen T. Denker Preceded byJames K. McLaughlin Vice Commander of the Air Force Warfare Center 2010–2011 Succeeded byDavid J. Buck Preceded byTod D. Wolters Director of Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations of the Air Force Space Command 2011–2012 Succeeded byJack Weinstein Preceded byJames K. McLaughlin Deputy Director for Global Operations of the United States Strategic Command 2012–2014 Succeeded byClinton Crosier Preceded byJohn W. Raymond Director for Plans and Policy of the United States Strategic Command 2014–2015 Preceded byDavid J. Buck Vice Commander of the Air Force Space Command 2015–2017 Succeeded byRobert J. Skinner Preceded byBruce H. McClintock Special Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Space Command 2017–2018 Position abolished New office Vice Commander of the Air Force Space Command, later United States Space Force 2018–2020 Position renamed New office Vice Chief of Space Operations 2020–2023 Succeeded byMichael Guetlein
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