SDMAC Breakfast June 2022 Featured Guest Speaker   General David D. Thompson Vice Chief of Space Operations United States Space Force

General David D. Thompson is currently serving as the first Vice Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force. As Vice Chief he is responsible for assisting the Chief of Space Operations in organizing, training and equipping space forces in the United States and overseas, integrating space policy and guidance, and coordinating space-related activities for the U.S. Space Force and Department of the Air Force.
 
The U.S. Space Force organizes, trains, equips and maintains mission-ready space forces that provide missile warning, space domain awareness, positioning, navigation and timing, communications and space electronic warfare for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Space Command and other geographic combatant commands. The command comprises approximately 30,000 space professionals worldwide.
 
General Thompson was commissioned in 1985 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a career space officer with assignments in operations, acquisition, research and development and academia. General Thompson has commanded operational space units at the squadron, group, and wing levels; he is also an Olmsted Scholar, graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course and Level III-Certified Program Manager. Prior to his assignment as Vice Chief of Space Operations, General Thompson was the Vice Commander, U.S. Space Force.

General Thompson has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, an Air Force Commendation Medal, and an Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

He received his master’s in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy.