Brig. Gen. Benjamin W. Spencer is the Chief, House Liaison Office, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He manages Department of the Air Force interactions with Members of the U.S House of Representatives and their staffs in support of Air Force and Space Force programs and Congressional travel. Brig. Gen. Spencer advises Air Staff, Space Staff, Major Commands, and Combatant Commands, developing strategies for the Air Force and Space Force to support Congressional engagements. Additionally, he provides staff-level interface with Congress for the Office of Secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief of Space Operations, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Vice Chief of Space Operations. Finally, Brig. Gen. Spencer analyzes national security and Department of Defense strategic policy for engagement with Congress, committees, and staff members while working directly with Members, Congressional Staff, and Air and Space Force leaders on plans, programs, and policies impacting the Department of the Air Force.
Brig. Gen. Spencer earned his commission through Officer Training School in 1995. He is a career aircraft maintenance officer with broadening experience through the Acquisitions and Logistics Experience Exchange Tour. Brig. Gen. Spencer has deployed in support of operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom in addition to a one-year tour in the Republic of Korea. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels—including two deployed commands—and served in logistics and acquisitions positions at the program office, complex, and center levels. Brig. Gen Spencer has also held key staff positions in Headquarters Air Force including Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Installations, Environment and Logistics; Execution Team Chief on the SecAF-CSAF Executive Action Group; and his current position as Chief, House Liaison Office.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Spencer served as the Vice Commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton, Ohio
1998 Master of Arts, Economics, University of Oklahoma, Norman
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Base Quantico, Va.
2013 Master of Arts, National and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2016 Executive Champions Lean Six Sigma Certification, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
2016 Depot and Arsenal Executive Leadership Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1995–July 1995, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1995–November 1996, Fabrication Flight Commander, 55th Maintenance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
3. November 1996–October 1997, Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 7th Airborne Command Control Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
4. October 1997–September 1998, Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
5. October 1998–April 1999, Propulsion Flight Commander, 20th Component Repair Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. May 1999–April 2002, Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. April 2002–July 2003, C-17 Propulsion Integration/Auxiliary Power Unit Program Manager, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. July 2003–April 2004, Chief, Director’s Action Group, C-17 System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. April 2004–April 2005, Executive Officer, C-17 System Program Office, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. April 2005–May 2006, Maintenance Operations Officer, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
11. June 2006–June 2008, Commander, 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. June 2008–June 2009, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
13. June 2009–June 2010, Chief, Studies and Analysis Branch, Weapons Systems Division, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2010–June 2011, Executive Officer, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Installations, Environment, and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2011–June 2012, Chief, Execution Team, SecAF-CSAF Executive Action Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2012–June 2013, Student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
17. July 2013–June 2014, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
18. August 2014–June 2016, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Tinker AFB, Okla.
19. June 2016–June 2017, Commander, 355th Maintenance Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
20. June 2017–June 2019, Commander, 319th Air Base Wing, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
21. June 2019–June 2020, Vice Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Okla.
22 July 2020–present, Chief, House Liaison Office, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star device
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star device
Korean Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course
1999 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2008 Air Force General Thomas P. Gerrity Award
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Marine Corps Command and Staff College
2013 Graduated with “Highest Distinction” (top 5%), Naval War College
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant March 17, 1995
First Lieutenant March 17, 1997
Captain March 17, 1999
Major June 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2009
Colonel Oct. 1, 2013
Brigadier General Aug. 17, 2021
(Current as of September 2021)