Maj. Gen. Philip A. Garrant is the Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems for the Missile Defense Agency. Programs in Maj. Gen. Garrant’s portfolio include Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, four Joint U.S. and Israeli Programs, and several classified programs collectively valued at more than $3.4 billion annually. His portfolio includes more than 1,200 civilian, military, and contractor personnel at locations worldwide.
Prior to assuming his current position, Maj. Gen. Garrant was the Vice Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center where he was responsible for assisting the commander in managing the research, design, development, acquisition, and sustainment of space and missile systems, launch, command and control, and operational satellite systems.
Maj. Gen. Garrant received his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Maryland in 1991. During his career, he has served in a variety of acquisition positions including Systems Engineer, Program Manager, Program Element Monitor, Squadron Commander, Senior Materiel Leader, and Deputy Program Executive Officer.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
1995 Master of Science, Systems Management, Capitol College, Laurel, Md.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2004 Master of Science, Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2011 Master of Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2014 Enterprise Leadership Program, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2016 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- March 1992 — June 1995, Systems Engineer then Program Manager, Document and Data Networks Division, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
- June 1995 — June 1999, Systems Engineer then Program Manager, Data Masked
- June 1999 — March 2001, Air Combat Training Manager, Weapons and Tactics Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
- March 2001 — June 2002, Executive Officer, Director of Air and Space Operations, Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany
- August 2002 — August 2003, Program Manager, F-16 Structures Branch, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah
- August 2003 — September 2004, Student, Intermediate Developmental Education, Systems Engineering Department, Air Force Institute of Technology,
- Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- September 2004 — July 2006; Chief, Advanced Sensors Branch; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Rosslyn, Va.
- July 2006 — June 2007; Chief, Predator, Reaper, and Big Safari Programs Branch; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Rosslyn, Va.
- June 2007 — June 2009, Commander, 689 Armament Systems Squadron, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- July 2008 — January 2009; Multi-National Corps-Iraq, C-8 Acquisition Liaison Officer, Camp Victory, Iraq
- June 2009 — June 2010; Deputy Director, 808 Armament Systems Group, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB Fla.
- July 2010 — June 2011, Student, Senior Developmental Education, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
- July 2011 — May 2014, Senior Material Leader, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Systems Division, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
- October 2013 — April 2014; Deputy Director for Regional Teams, Operational Contract Support and Chief, Audit Readiness; Headquarters U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan and Al Udeid, Qatar
- May 2014 — June 2017, Director, Space Superiority Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
- June 2017 — June 2019, Vice Commander and Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
- June 2019 — present, Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2008 — January 2009; Multi-National Corps-Iraq, C-8 Acquisition Liaison Officer, Camp Victory, Iraq, as a lieutenant colonel
- October 2013 — April 2014; Deputy Director for Regional Teams, Operational Contract Support and Chief, Audit Readiness, Headquarters U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan and Al Udeid, Qatar, as a colonel
- June 2019 — present, Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., as a brigadier general and major general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
PUBLICATIONS
“What are the Lessons from using Airpower in Counterinsurgencies?” Army War College, 2011
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 23,1991
First Lieutenant Oct. 19, 1993
Captain Oct. 19, 1995
Major Aug. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2006
Colonel Sept. 1, 2011
Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2017
Major General May 22, 2020
(Current as of June 2020)