Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Slade is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, he is responsible for assisting in the generation, presentation and sustainment of U.S. Space Force combat-ready space, cyberspace, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and combat support forces. Additionally, he assists the commander in his service force provider role to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations for sourcing, training, certifying and assessing the readiness of America’s Space Forces to execute service and combatant commander-assigned missions.
Brig. Gen. Slade commissioned in August 1993 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Utah State University. He has served in a variety of active-duty space and missile operations and staff positions, including Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile and Milstar operations squadrons, a test squadron and United States Strategic Command. Transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in 2005, Brig. Gen. Slade has served in multiple joint commands and on the Air Staff. Recalled to active duty in 2009, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Expeditionary Cyber Support Element officer-in-charge, Deputy Chief of Staff Communication, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Prior to assuming his current position, Brig. Gen. Slade served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations (J3), U.S. Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Utah State University, Logan
1997 Master of Science in Administration, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant
2000 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Md.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Middle East and South Asia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1994–June 1994, Student, Undergraduate Missile Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
2. June 1994–November 1997, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, Standardization and Evaluation Deputy Evaluator, Missile Combat Crew Commander, Operations Support Squadron Instructor Crew Commander, 321st Missile Group, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
3. November 1997–May 2001, Milstar Satellite Operations Officer, Chief Inspection Analysis Section, Mobile Milstar Satellite Operations Officer, Crew Commander, 50th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, Colo.
4. May 2001–January 2003, Assistant Flight Commander, Force Development Evaluation and Flight Commander, Space Support, 17th Test Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
5. January 2003–October 2004, Joint Exercise Planner, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
6. May 2005–May 2006, Operations Staff Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7. June 2006–July 2007, Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Md.
8. July 2007–February 2010, Current Operations Battle Captain, Partner/Interagency Operations Division Chief, Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
9. February 2010–May 2011, Senior Cyber Advisor to United States Central Command and Joint Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. and Fort Bragg, N.C. (October 2010–May 2011 Expeditionary Cyber Support Element officer-in-charge, Deputy Chief of Staff Communication, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Afghanistan)
10. May 2011–February 2012, Deputy, Operational Planning Team, United States Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
11. February 2012–July 2013, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Chief Contingency Planning Branch, Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. August 2013–September 2014, Commander, 19th Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
13. September 2014–August 2016, IMA to the 50th Space Wing Commander, Schriever AFB, Colo.
14. August 2016–October 2018, Commander, 310th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, Colo.
15. October 2018–May 2021, Vice Commander, 310th Space Wing, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.
16. May 2021–August 2022, Mobilization Assistant to the Combined Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command; and Deputy Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.
17. September 2022–February 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations (J3), United States Space Command, Schriever SFB, Colo.
18. March 2024–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003–October 2004, Joint Exercise Planner, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a major
2. May 2005–May 2006, Operations Staff Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a major
3. July 2007–February 2010, Current Operations Battle Captain, Partner/Interagency Operations Division Chief, Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare, Fort George G. Meade, Md., as a major and as a lieutenant colonel
4. February 2010–May 2011, Senior Cyber Advisor to United States Central Command and Joint Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. and Fort Bragg, N.C. (October 2010–May 2011 Expeditionary Cyber Support Element officer-in-charge, Deputy Chief of Staff Communication, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Afghanistan), as a lieutenant colonel
5. May 2011–February 2012, Deputy, Operational Planning Team, United States Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md., as a lieutenant colonel
6. May 2021–August 2022, Mobilization Assistant to the Combined Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command; and Deputy Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., as a colonel and as a brigadier general
7. September 2022–February 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations (J3), United States Space Command, Schriever SFB, Colo., as a brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
NATO Medal
(Current as of March 2024)