SCAPR welcomes Col Rich Kniseley for our March Luncheon.  Col Kniseley is the Senior Material Leader for the Commercial Space Office, which stood up in 2023 to lead Space System Command’s commercial acquisition and liaison efforts. He’ll be speaking to the current COMSO efforts for 2024, including establishing Commercial Space Augmentation Reserve (CASR) in the near future.

Please note, the venue for this event has changed to the Embassy Suites, LAX South off Imperial Blvd.  We’re excited to be back at the Embassy Suites as they have completed their renovations.

Details

Date: Wednesday, March 13th, 2024

Location: Embassy Suites El Segundo (1440 E Imperial Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245)

Agenda:

• 11:30 Networking
• 12:00 Lunch
• 12:30 Speaker
• 13:00 Adjourn

As always, members are free with RSVP. Guests of members can be purchased on the website for $40.  Please RSVP no later than 1pm on 3/11.

Speaker Biography

Colonel Richard Kniseley is the Senior Materiel Leader, Commercial Space Office, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Colonel Kniseley leads a 90 personnel office that assesses, implements, integrates, and monitors commercial spaces capabilities for the Department of Defense. Charged with enacting a “Buy Before Build” paradigm shift, Colonel Kniseley executes over $1 Billion in investments mitigating critical capability gaps for the warfighter while interacting with senior Department of the Air Force members, Congressional Staff, and leaders of industry.

Colonel Kniseley entered active duty in 2000 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Colorado State University. During his career, he has served in a variety of acquisition positions including Program Manager, Flight Test Manager, Flight Commander, Headquarters Staff Officer, Field Command Staff Officer, Legislative Liaison, and Materiel Leader.

EDUCATION

• 2000 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
• 2001 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
• 2003 Master of Arts, Computer Resources & Information Management, Webster University, St. Louis, MO
• 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
• 2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
• 2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence

CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1. July 2000 – July 2002, CSEL Business IPT Lead, Navstar GPS JPO, Los Angeles AFB, CA
2. July 2002 – June 2004, Chief, GPS Modernization Planning, Navstar GPS JPO, Los Angeles AFB, CA
3. June 2004 – June 2006, Vulnerabilities Test Manager, 746th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
4. June 2006 – August 2007, Chief, Inertial Systems Element, 746th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
5. August 2007 – August 2008, Flight Commander, Test Engineering, 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
6. August 2008 – April 2010, Program Manager, Joint Threat Emitter, 501st Combat Sustainment Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
7. April 2010 – September 2010, Wing Executive Officer, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
8. September 2010 – April 2011, Deputy Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, UT
9. April 2011 – January 2014, Deputy Chief, EELV Acquisition Branch, Launch Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, CA
10. January 2014 – July 2015, Deputy Chief, Mission Management Branch, Launch Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, CA
11. July 2015 – June 2017, Branch Chief, Space Launch & Ranges, Directorate of Space Programs, Pentagon, Washington DC
12. June 2017 – June 2018, Chief, USAF Space Programs, Office of Legislative Liaison, Pentagon, Washington DC
13. June 2018 – August 2020, Materiel Leader, Mission Integration Branch, Launch Systems Enterprise, Los Angeles AFB, CA
14. August 2020 – July 2021, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA
15. July 2021 – May 2022, Chief, SSC CORE Team, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA
16. May 2022 – April 2023, Chief, Enterprise Requirements & Architectures Div, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA
17. April 2023 – Pres, Senior Materiel Leader, Commercial Space Office, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA

AWARDS AND HONORS

• Meritorious Service Medal (w/ 4 devices)
• Aerial Achievement Medal (w/ 1 device)
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal (w/ 1 device)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS

• Second Lieutenant May 21, 2000
• First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
• Captain May 31, 2004
• Major April 1, 2010
• Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2015
• Colonel July 1, 2021