SCAPR welcomes Lieutenant Colonel Gary Thompson. Lt Col Thompson as he speaks on matters concerning business practices and software development technologies, platform architecture, and requirements prioritization to advance U.S. Government, Commercial and Coalition Partner Space Command and Control for Space Superiority and Deterrence in support of the Battle Management Command, Control & Communications (BMC3) Program Executive Officer.

Details

Date: Wednesday, September 25th, 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 9/23.

Speaker Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Thompson entered the Air Force in 1999 as a graduate of Officer Training School following 7 years of Army and Minnesota Army National Guard enlistment. He has served in a variety of acquisition, business, information assurance and staff positions at Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Space Command. He was mobilized in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. While deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, he served under United States Central Command at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan and the NATO International Security Assistance Force. Lieutenant Colonel Thompson transitioned from active duty to the Air Force Reserves in 2009 where he continues to support space systems and users worldwide.

EDUCATION

1998 Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – River Falls, WI
1999 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL 1999 Acquisition Fundamentals, Lackland AFB, TX
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL 2000 Joint Air Operations Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL 2010 Space Fundamentals, Peterson AFB, CO
2017 Intermediate Developmental Education, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1999-Sep 1999, Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2. Dec 1999-Dec 2001, Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome Research Site, New York
3. Dec 2001-Jul 2002, Systems Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome Research Site, New York
4. Jul 2002-Dec 2002, Assistant to the Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome Research Site, New York
5. Dec 2002-Apr 2004, Deployment Manager, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Deployed Oct 2003-Apr2004, Executive Officer 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Tallil AB, Iraq)
6. May 2004-May 2006, Project Manager, Special Operations SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. May 2006-Mar 2008, Business Operations, MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, California (Deployed Oct 2006-May 2007, Aide De Camp – NATO ISAF DCOM Security and Provincial Reconstruction Team, Kabul Afghanistan)
8. Mar 2008-Aug 2009, Information Assurance, MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, California
9. Dec 2009-Jul 2019, Project Manager, MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, California
10. Jul 2019-Oct 2022, Chief of Enterprise Satellite Communications Capability Integration, Portfolio Architect, Los Angeles AFB, California
11. Oct 2022-Present, Chief of Platform and Enterprise Services, Operational C2 Acquisition Delta, PEO BMC3, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, California

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award Good Conduct Medal with 2 loop devices
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon National Defense Service Medal with one service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with five oak leaf clusters
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one service star
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal