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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL SANDRA E. FINAN |
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MAJOR GENERAL SANDRA E. FINAN
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Maj. Gen. Sandra E. Finan is the Commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The center is composed of a headquarters staff, one wing and two wing-equivalent directorates: the 377th Air Base Wing and Nuclear Capabilities Directorate at Kirtland AFB; and the ICBM Systems Directorate at Hill AFB, Utah. The AFNWC comprises more than 3,500 Airmen at 11 locations in the United States and Europe and is responsible for the entire scope of nuclear weapons sustainment functions.
General Finan entered the Air National Guard in 1982 as an enlisted cryptographic equipment repairperson. She received her Air Force commission in 1985 as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School. She has served in a variety of space and nuclear assignments in missile crew operations; training and evaluations; satellite command and control; and satellite operations. The general has held senior staff assignments as the Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General and the Air Force Space Command Director of Nuclear Operations.
Her commands include a space operations squadron and missile wing. General Finan has deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia as the Director of Space Forces in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Previously, she was the Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, Office of Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
EDUCATION
1978 Bachelor of Arts in music education, California State University, San Bernardino
1989 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1989 Master of Science in systems management, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1997 Master of Arts in national defense and strategic studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
1997 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2004 Master of Strategic Studies degree, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 National Security Fellow, Syracuse University, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1982 - January 1985, Air National Guard cryptographic technician and Air Force Reserve military training instructor, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. April 1985 - May 1987, protocol officer and executive officer, 2nd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. June 1987 - August 1987, student, undergraduate missile training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
4. September 1987 - August 1991, senior evaluator commander and missile combat crew member, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
5. September 1991 - September 1993, command operations evaluator, 3901st Missile Evaluation Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
6. October 1993 - June 1996, program manager; Chief, Standardization and Evaluation; and chief, Training Programs, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
7. July 1996 - June 1997, student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
8. July 1997 - September 1997, student, Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
9. October 1997 - August 1999, special assistant to the Commander; executive assistant to the deputy commander; and National Military Command System command and control officer, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
10. September 1999 - August 2000, executive assistant to the Director of Security and Emergency Operations, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
11. September 2000 - June 2001, operations officer, 21st Space Operation Squadron, Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif.
12. July 2001 - June 2003, Commander, 21st Space Operations Squadron, and installation commander, Onizuka AFS, Calif.
13. July 2003 - May 2004, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2004 - July 2006, Vice Commander, 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
15. July 2006 - May 2008, Commander, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
16. June 2008 - August 2009, Director, Nuclear Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
17. September 2009 - December 2010, Inspector General, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
18. January 2011 - January 2013, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, Office of Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
19. February 2013 - present, Commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1997 - August 1999, special assistant to the Commander; executive assistant to the Deputy Commander; and National Military Command System command and control officer, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a major and lieutenant colonel
2. September 1999 - August 2000, executive assistant to the Director of Security and Emergency Operations, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
3. January 2011 - January 2013, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, Office of Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., as a brigadier general
BADGES
Command Missile Badge with Operations Designator
Command Space Badge
WEAPONS SYSTEMS
Minuteman II ICBM Improved Launch Control System
Minuteman III Rapid Execution and Combat Target System
Inertial Upper Stage Booster
Air Force Satellite Control Network
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 5, 1985
First Lieutenant April 5, 1987
Captain April 5, 1989
Major Aug. 1, 1996
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 1999
Colonel Aug. 1, 2003
Brigadier General May 7, 2010
Major General (frocked)
(Current as of April 2013)
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