Updated: Sept. Luncheon – Col Neal Roach, Director, Engineering and Integration Division, Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power

Due to a last minute conflict, unfortunately Col McClain, PEO for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power (SDA&CP  – SSC/SZ) will not be able to join us for the luncheon.  He graciously provided a stand-in, with Col Neal Roach, Director, Engineering and Integration Division supporting SDA & CP as well as SSIO speaking in his place.

Details:

Date: September 27th, 2023

Location: DoubleTree El Segundo (1985 E Grand 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 9/25.

Biography:

Colonel Neal Roach is the Director, Engineering and Integration Division, Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power (SDACP) and Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3), Space System Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.  His Division directly supports the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for SDACP and BMC3 with foundational systems engineering for acquiring and sustaining the two diverse portfolios of over 60 programs and a $12B+ budget.  They utilize modeling and simulation, and state-of-the-art digital tools and processes, to meet national requirements by optimizing space control, resilience, and improving command and control for space.  Additionally, the Division employs embedded intelligence resources to anticipate evolving threats, then identify and advance key technologies to negate those threats.

Col Roach earned his commission as a distinguished graduate from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Air Force ROTC program, and entered active duty at Vandenberg AFB, CA, in February 2001. Col Roach has served in a variety of Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile crew positions including Chief of Training, Senior Instructor Crew, Training Section Chief, and Instructor. He is a career space professional with experience with ACAT-1 programs in both Global Positioning System and Space-Based Infrared System mission areas.  Col Roach has also served as Program Element Monitor, Executive Officer, Materiel Leader, and Section Commander. He has deployed twice in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and led the Host Nation Coordination Cell for the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. He transferred to the United States Space Force in 2021.

EDUCATION
2000     Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FL.
2002      Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2004     Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2006      Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Extended Campus, Minot ND.
2008      Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
2014      Intermediate Developmental Education, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
2021      Air War College, Correspondence.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. February 2001 – September 2001, student, Officer Space Prerequisite Training/ICBM Operations Training, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA.
2. October 2001 – August 2006, Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Combat Crew, Chief of Training, Senior Instructor Combat Crew, Training Section Chief, ICBM Instructor, 742^nd
3. Missile Squadron and 91^st Operational Support Squadron, Minot AFB, ND.
4. August 2006 – March 2008, Student, Systems Engineering Masters Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
5. April 2008 – May 2009, Chief, GPS User Segment Requirements, Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
6. June 2009 – May 2011, Chief, GPS Requirements Branch, Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
7. June 2011 – May 2012, Chief, GPS III Systems Engineering, Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
8. June 2012 – July 2013, Chief, GPS III Business and Acquisition Management, Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
9. Aug 2013 – June 2014, Student, Intermediate Development Education, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
10. July 2014 – June 2015, Program Element Monitor, Global Positioning System portfolio, Space Programs Directorate, Pentagon, Washington DC.
11. July 2015- June 2016, Executive Officer, Space Programs Directorate, Pentagon, Washington DC.
12. July 2016- June 2019, Materiel Leader, Space-Based Infrared System GEO-5/6 Production, Remote Sensing Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
13. July 2019 – April 2021, Chief, Missile Warning Capability Integration, Portfolio Architect, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
14. May 2021 – May 2022, Commander, SSC Section, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
15. June 2022 – May 2023, SSC Core Team Lead, Space System Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
16. May 2023 – Present, Director, Engineering and Integration Division, SDACP and BMC3, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.

OPERATIONAL INFORMATION

Weapon System: Minuteman III ICBM (REACT-A)

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2 Devices)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal (1 Device)
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal
AFSPC ICBM Instructor/Evaluator of the Year – 2005
Space and Missile System Center Lance P. Sijan Senior Officer Nominee – 2012
ACQUISITION AND SPACE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATIONS
Space Professional Level III
Systems Planning Research, Development, and Engineering-Systems Engineering Level III
Program Management Level III

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, 15 December 2000
First Lieutenant, 16 January 2003
Captain, 16 June 2005
Major, 1 November 2010
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 March 2016
Colonel, 1 July 2022