Stephen G. Purdy
Official portrait, 2023
Bornc. 1971 (age 52–53)
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1993–2021 (Air Force)
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
RankMajor General
Commands held
Assured Access to Space Directorate
Awards
Defense Superior Service Medal
Alma mater
Baylor University (BS, MS)
Spouse(s)Wendy
RelationsStephen Purdy Sr. (father)

Stephen G. Purdy Jr. (born c. 1971) is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration. He previously served as commander of Space Launch Delta 45, program executive officer for assured access to space, director of the Eastern Range, and director of launch and range operations of Space Systems Command.

Education

Military career

In September 2022, Purdy was nominated for promotion to major general.[2]

Assignments

Purdy assumed command of the 45th Space Wing in 2021
Purdy talks with Gen Raymond, 2021
Purdy tours an Italian Air Force Attaché at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, 2022

1. September 1995 – December 1997, Simulation Systems Engineer, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. January 1998 – July 1999, Executive Officer, Air Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. August 1999 – May 2001, Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (January 2000 – June 2000, Intern, Nuclear Matters, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C.; June 2000 – December 2000, Intern, Space Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.)
4. June 2001 – December 2001, Chief, Atlas V Booster, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
5. January 2002 – May 2003, Chief, Atlas V Avionics, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
6. June 2003 – March 2004, Chief Engineer, Atlas V, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
7. March 2004 – July 2005, Joint Counterair Manager, Global Power Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. August 2005 – December 2006, Fellow, Air Force Congressional Legislative Fellows Program, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Defense Fellow for United States Senator Pete V. Domenici, State of New Mexico).
9. January 2007 – December 2007, Deputy, Congressional Appropriations Strategy and Engagement Division, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Office, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Budget), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. January 2008 – August 2008, Chief, Congressional Appropriations Strategy and Engagement Division, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Office, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Budget), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. August 2008 – June 2009, Space and Nuclear Congressional Liaison, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Office, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Budget), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2009 – May 2010, Space, Nuclear and Cyber Congressional Liaison, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Office, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Budget), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. June 2010 – June 2011, Senior Military Assistant/Executive Officer, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (Space Programs), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. July 2011 – April 2012, Materiel Leader (Squadron Commander equivalent)/Chief, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Strategic Planning Branch, Launch and Range Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
15. April 2012 – January 2013, Materiel Leader (Squadron Commander equivalent)/Chief, EELV Program Management Branch, Launch and Range Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
16. February 2013 – June 2013, Materiel Leader (Squadron Commander equivalent)/Chief, EELV Program Management Branch, and Acting Branch Chief, EELV New Entrant Acquisitions, Launch and Range Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
17. July 2013 – June 2014, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
18. June 2014 – June 2017, Senior Materiel Leader (Group Commander equivalent) and Division Chief, Protected Satellite Communications (Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Satellite Program), Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
19. June 2017 – March 2020, Senior Materiel Leader (Wing Commander equivalent) and Director, Space Superiority Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
20. March 2020 – June 2020, Acting Director, Plans, Programs, Financial Management, Headquarters United States Space Force, Peterson AFB, Colo.
21. June 2020–August 2020, Director, Plans, Programs, Financial Management, Headquarters United States Space Force, Peterson AFB, Colo.
22. August 2020–October 2020, Dual Hatted, Director, Strategic Requirements, Architectures and Analysis and Director, Plans, Programs and Financial Management, Headquarters United States Space Force, Peterson AFB, Colo.
23. October 2020–January 2021, Dual Hatted, Director, Strategic Requirements, Architectures and Analysis and Director, Plans, Programs and Financial Management, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
24. January 2021–May 2021, Commander, 45th Space Wing; and Director, Eastern Range, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
25. May 2021–August 2021, Commander, Space Launch Delta 45; and Director, Eastern Range, Patrick SFB, Fla.
26. Aug 2021–February 2022, Commander, Space Launch Delta 45; and Director, Eastern Range; and Director of Launch and Range Operations for Space Systems Command, Patrick SFB, Fla.
27. February 2022–Present, Commander, Space Launch Delta 45; and Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space; and Director, Eastern Range; and Director of Launch and Range Operations for Space Systems Command, Patrick SFB, Fla.
28. June 2023 – Present, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.[1]

Personal life

Purdy is the son of Laura L. and Stephen G. Purdy Sr., a retired Air Force colonel.[3] He is married to Wendy.[4]

Awards and decorations

Purdy is the recipient of the following awards:

Command Space Operations Badge
Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
Space Staff Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
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
 Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
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
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

Rank Branch Date[1]
Second Lieutenant Air Force December 18, 1993
First Lieutenant November 2, 1996
Captain November 1, 1998
Major April 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2009
Colonel October 1, 2014
Brigadier General August 6, 2020
Brigadier General Space Force ~April 29, 2021
Major General December 1, 2022

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen G. Purdy Jr..
  1. ^ a b c "Major General Stephen G. Purdy, Jr". United States Space Force. October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "PN2514 — Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". United States Congress. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "Like Father, Like Son: Col Stephen Purdy". Los Angeles Air Force Base.
  4. ^ "11 Jul 1999, 13 - Santa Maria Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
Military offices Preceded byPhilip Garrant Director of the Space Superiority Systems Directorate 2017–2019 Directorate inactivated New title Director of Special Programs of the Space and Missile Systems Center 2019–2020 Succeeded byDennis Bythewood Preceded byDavid N. Miller Director of Plans, Programs, and Financial Management of the Space Operations Command 2020 (acting)2020–2021 Succeeded byBrian T. Kehl Preceded byWilliam Liquori Director of Requirements, Architectures, and Analysis of the Space Operations Command 2020 Succeeded byJack D. Fulmer II Preceded byDouglas Schiess Commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and Director of the Eastern Range 2021–2023 Succeeded byKristin Panzenhagen New office Director of Launch and Range Operations of the Space Systems Command 2021–2023 Preceded byD. Jason Cothern Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space of the United States Space Force 2022–2023 Preceded bySteven P. Whitney Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration 2023–present Incumbent
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