Brig. Gen. Jason 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 1300 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 began his Air Force career in 1994 as an enlisted pneudraulics systems journeyman, performing aircraft maintenance on the F-15C, F-16C/D, and A-10 aircraft at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany. In 1997, he entered Reserve Officer Training at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, and was commissioned in 2000 after completing his undergraduate degree at California State University, Fullerton, California. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Deputy Director for Space Operations at the National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, History, Cum Laude, California State University, Fullerton
2003 Masters in 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 in National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, 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
2025 Leading Data & 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 Air Force Base, 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 & 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 & Tactics Flight Commander, Joint Space Operations Center, 148th Space Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
8. August 2008–August 2009, Weapons & 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 & 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 2012–April 2013, CENTCOM 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, National Guard Bureau Space Operations, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. March 2024–present, ANG Readiness Center Special Assistant for Space Operations, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017–October 2018, Service Representative to the Defense Business Board & Senior Military Assistant, Office of the Chief Management Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington Va., as a colonel.
BADGES
Master Space Badge
Basic Aircraft Maintenance Badge
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space 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 Det040, 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.
(Current as of August 2025)