David D. Thompson

David Dean "DT" Thompson (born c. 1963) is a United States Space Force general currently serving as the service's first vice chief of space operations. He previously served the vice commander of the United States Space Force, a position he retained from the Air Force Space Command when it was establish as a separate service branch, from April 2, 2018 to September 30, 2020.[2][3][4][5] He assumed his current assignment on October 2, 2020.[6]

David D. Thompson
Official portrait, 2020
Birth name	David Dean Thompson[1]
Nickname(s)	DT
Born	1963 (age 57–58) Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force (1985–2020) United States Space Force (2020–present)
Years of service	1985–present (35 years)
Rank	General
Commands held	Vice Chief of Space Operations Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado 45th Operations Group
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal

Early life and education

USAFA yearbook photo of Thompson

Born and raised in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Thompson graduated in Ambridge Area High School in 1981.[7] He got his Bachelor of Science, majoring in astronautical engineering, from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and graduated in 1985. In 1989, he received his graduate degree of Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He is also an Olmsted Scholar, graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course and a Level III-Certified Program Manager.

Military career

General Raymond promoting Thompson to general of the U.S. Space Force, October 1.

Thompson received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force from the United States Air Force Academy in 1985. He is a career space officer with assignments in operations, research and development, acquisition, and academia.[8] He has commanded operational space units at the squadron, group, and wing levels.

A month after his commission, he was assigned in July 1985 at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at the Edwards Air Force Base, California. For three years after getting his graduate degree, he was an instructor on astronautics in the U.S. Air Force Academy, assigned as the executive officer of the Department of Astronautics of the academy. From 1995 to 1998, he served at Space and Missile Systems Center as program manager.

From July 2015 to July 2017, he served as the Air Force Space Command's then-two-star vice commander. That position was then renamed as AFSPC deputy commander in 2017 with Thomson serving as the special assistant to the AFSPC commander. In 2018, the AFSPC planned to revive the vice commander position, turning it into a position for a three-star general after Congress nixed plans on creating a deputy chief of staff for space operations position.[9] On April 4, 2018, he then assumed the retook his previous position as AFSPC vice commander, promoting him to a lieutenant general.[10]

With the redesignation of the AFSPC as the newly created United States Space Force on December 20, 2019, Thompson retained his position as vice commander of the Space Force. In August 2020, he was nominated for transfer to the Space Force at his current rank of lieutenant general.[11] He was also nominated for appointment to the rank of general[12] and assignment as the first vice chief of space operations.[13] He was confirmed by the Senate on September 30, 2020,[12] and assumed rank following day.[14] Thompson assumed office on October 2.[6]

Awards and decorations

	Command Space Operations Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge[15]
	Basic Missile Maintenance Badge
	Space Staff Badge

	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
	National Reconnaissance Office Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotion

Rank	Date
Second lieutenant	May 29, 1985
First lieutenant	May 29, 1987
Captain	May 29, 1989
Major	August 1, 1996
Lieutenant colonel	May 1, 2000
Colonel	August 1, 2004
Brigadier general	June 18, 2010
Major general	October 10, 2013
Lieutenant general	April 4, 2018
General	October 1, 2020

References

1. Polaris (PDF). XXVII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1985. p. 84. Retrieved February 21, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "Lieutenant General David D. Thompson". www.af.mil. February 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. Pope, Charles (January 5, 2020). "Officials provide details on building the Space Force, its structure, and operating imperatives". US Space Force. Washington DC. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
4. Erwin, Sanra (August 8, 2020). "With Thompson's nomination, U.S. Space Force leadership takes shape". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
5. "General Officer Announcement". United States Department of Defense. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. Kirby, Lynn (October 4, 2020). "First-ever Vice CSO joins U.S. Space Force". SpaceForce.mil. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
7. Prose, J.D. (June 15, 2019). "Air Force Lt. Gen. David Thompson, an Ambridge native, tours RMU simulation center". Retrieved July 17, 2020.
8. Schurr, Marjorie A. (June 18, 2019). "Steel foundation: Locally-born general comes home to tell AF story". Retrieved July 18, 2020.
9. Erwin, Sandra (January 17, 2018). "Air Force to create three-star 'vice commander' post to manage space activities". SpaceNews. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
10. "Air Force establishes Pentagon-based AFSPC vice commander position". af.mil. Retrieved May 22, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
11. "PN2164 — Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson — Space Force". congress.gov. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
12. "PN2163 — Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson — Space Force". congress.gov. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
13. "General Officer Announcement". defense.gov. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
14. "General David D. Thompson Bio". SpaceForce.mil.
15. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108580/lieutenant-general-david-d-thompson/

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN