Lieutenant Colonel Gary Thompson advises and assists the Portfolio Architect and Corps on matters concerning business practices and technologies to advance U.S. Government, Commercial and Coalition Partner satellite communications capabilities as an integrated enterprise.
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
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
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
2008 APDP Level I, SPRDE, DAU
2008 APDP Level III, Program Management, DAU
2010 Certified Information Systems Security Professional, (ISC)2 2013 Certified HIPAA Security Expert
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1999-Sep 1999, Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
10. Jul 2019-Present, Chief of Enterprise Satellite Communications Capability Integration, Portfolio Architect, Los Angeles AFB, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 General Edwin W. Rawlings Award
2000 Top Contributor, Aerospace Basic Course 2005 Top Third Flight, Squadron Officer School 2017 SMC/MC Reservist of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel (Current as of 1 Apr 2021)
30 September 1999 30 September 2001 30 September 2003
1 October 2010 1 October 2018