Lt. Gen. Donna D. Shipton is Commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The center is responsible for total life cycle management for aircraft, engines, munitions, electronic, computer, network, cyber and agile combat support systems. The center employs more than 28,000 people and has a budget of over $300 billion.
Most recently, the general served as Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. There she was responsible for research and development, test, production, product support and modernization of Air Force programs worth more than $60 billion annually.
Lt. Gen. Shipton received her commission in 1991 as a distinguished graduate of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps after graduating from Clemson University. During her career, she has served in a variety of positions including Squadron and Group Commander, Senior Materiel Leader, AF Program Executive Officer, Center Vice Commander and Major Command Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analyses.
She also served as Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Virginia. There, her responsibilities included assisting the Director in managing the strategic and tactical operations of the NRO. Additionally, as the Commander of the Space Force Element, the general managed all Air Force and Space Force personnel and resources assigned to the NRO and served as the senior advisor to the DNRO on all military matters.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
1995 Master of Business Administration, Chapman University, Orange, Calif.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Master of Space Systems, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1992–July 1996, Project Engineer and Lead Systems Engineer, GPS Block IIF Satellite System, GPS Joint Program Office, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
2. July 1996–July 1998, Flight Commander, Operating Division-4, National Reconnaissance Office, Onizuka Air Station, Calif.
3. July 1998–May 2000, Student, Air Force Intern Program, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. May 2000–June 2002, Chief, Satellite Engineering and Operations Branch, Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, NRO, Buckley AFB, Colo.
5. June 2002–June 2003, Program Element Monitor, Advanced Reconnaissance Programs, Information Dominance Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, SAF/AQI, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. June 2003–May 2004, Speechwriter, Under Secretary of the Air Force (dual-hatted as Director, NRO), SECAF/CSAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. May 2004–June 2005, Intermediate Developmental Education Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. June 2005–June 2007, Deputy Program Manager and Program Manager, Advanced Space Control Demonstrations, Counterspace Group, Space Superiority Systems Wing, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
9. June 2007–July 2009, Commander, Space Communications Operations Squadron, Communications Directorate, NRO, Los Angeles, Calif.
10. July 2009–June 2010, Senior Developmental Education Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2010–July 2012, F-35 Fleet Manager, Logistics and Sustainment Directorate, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Arlington, Va.
12. July 2012–April 2014, Commander, Network Operations Group, Mission Operations and Communications Directorates, NRO, Chantilly, Va.
13. April 2014–June 2015, Senior Materiel Leader, Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division, C3I&N, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
14. June 2015–June 2017, Senior Military Assistant, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, SAF/AQ, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2017–June 2019, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Tankers, Tanker Directorate, AFLCMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. June 2019–July 2020, Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, U.S. Space Force, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. with duty as AF Deputy PEO for Space and PEO for Space Enterprise
17. July 2020–August 2021, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analyses, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. August 2021–August 2022, Deputy Director and Space Force Element Commander, NRO, Chantilly, Va.
19. August 2022–December 2023, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. December 2023–present, Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2010–July 2012, F-35 Fleet Manager, Logistics and Sustainment Directorate, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
(Current as of January 2024)