Brig. Gen. Jason “3Dog” W. Knight serves as the Special Assistant for Space Operations to the Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. In this capacity, Brig. Gen. Knight assists the Commander in formulating, developing, and coordinating all policies, plans and programs for Air National Guard space-related activities affecting 14 units and over 1,300 Airmen performing space operations that span strategic missile warning, expeditionary space electromagnetic warfare, protected satellite communications command and control (NC3), and space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. The Air National Guard organizes, trains, equips and maintains mission-ready National Guard space forces to meet global combatant command warfighting requirements.
Brig. Gen. Knight enlisted in the active-duty Air Force in 1994, serving as an Aircraft Maintenance Journeyman on A-10, F- 15C, and F-16 aircraft at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, supporting Operation Northern Watch. Transitioning to space operations as a commissioned officer, he gained extensive experience in diverse space capabilities before commanding at multiple levels. He led the 137th Space Warning Squadron, the 195th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, and the 195th Operations Group, commanding over 650 personnel across a wide range of operational specialties. As a Commander, he directed the global deployment of cyber and space professionals, ensured uninterrupted 24/7 protected satellite constellation command and control, and delivered continuous in-place mobilizations of intelligence personnel supporting ongoing worldwide U.S. Air Force intelligence operations. He also served as Theater Space Weapons Officer at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, coordinating all U.S. Central Command area of operations collateral space capabilities.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Knight served as the Acting Director of Space Operations, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, directing all policies, plans, and programs for 14 geographically dispersed units. This followed several key staff positions at the Pentagon where he provided direct support to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In these roles, he advised senior leaders on matters of national defense policy, military strategy, and space operations, and actively contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and the re-establishment of U.S. Space Command.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, History, Cum Laude, California State University, Fullerton
2003 Master of Business Administration, University of La Verne, Calif.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2021 China and East Asia Seminar, Alan Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Arlington, Va.
2024 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2025 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2025 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–November 2000, Student, Officer Space Pre-requisite Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2. November 2000–August 2002, Range Operations Instructor, 30th Range Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
3. August 2002–August 2003, Chief of Training, 30th Range Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
4. August 2003–June 2004, Senior Crew, Range Standardization and Evaluations, 30th Operations Group, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
5. August 2004–August 2006, Spacelift Range Operations Officer, 148th Space Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
6. August 2006–August 2007, Space Operations Officer, 148th Space Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
7. August 2007–August 2008, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, Joint Space Operations Center, 148th Space Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
8. August 2008–August 2009, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander and Deputy Space Operations Mission Commander, Joint Space Operations Center Combat Operations Division, 216th Operations Support Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
9. August 2009–June 2010, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Space Superiority WIC, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. June 2010–March 2011, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander and Chief of Combat Operations Training, Joint Space Operations Center, 216th Operations Support Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
11. March 2011–July 2014, Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander, 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (October 15. 2012–April 2013, U.S. Central Command Director of Space Forces, Space Weapons Officer, U.S. Air Forces Central, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
12. July 2014–July 2016, Commander, 137th Space Warning Squadron, Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley, Colo.
13. July 2016–June 2017, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, Newport, R.I.
14. June 2017–April 2018, Senior Staff Officer to the Defense Business Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. April 2018–October 2018, Military Assistant to the Chief Management Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. October 2018–January 2020, Chief, Joint Space Division, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. January 2020–June 2020, Director of Staff, National Guard Bureau Space Operations, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2020–June 2021, Commander, 195th Intelligence, and Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
19. June 2021–May 2023, Commander, 195th Operations Group, Van Nuys Air National Guard Station, Van Nuys, Calif.
20. May 2023–March 2024, Deputy Director, Space Operations, NGB-SO, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. March 2024–present, Special Assistant for Space Operations to the Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017–October 2018, Service Representative to the Defense Business Board and Senior Military Assistant, Office of the Chief Management Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 040, Loyola Marymount, Calif.
2004 Competitor, Launch Operations, Guardian Challenge, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
2013 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Designated Professional Performer, U.S. Central Command Internal Look Exercise 2013, Shaw AFB, S.C.
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Master Space Badge
Basic Aircraft Maintenance Badge
(Current as of September 2025)