Brig. Gen. Joy M. Kaczor serves as the Acting Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighter Communications and Cyber Systems, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, she serves as the Air Force's senior leader responsible for guidance, oversight and advocacy of Air Force Warfighter Communications and Cyber Systems implementation. She integrates comprehensive planning, strategic resourcing and force development, readiness and management activities to deliver critical freedom of action in cyberspace, advancing joint warfighting missions by ensuring the service maintains technological superiority and operational resilience across all domains of conflict.
Brig. Gen. Kaczor was commissioned through Officer Training School in January 1999. She has commanded at multiple levels, including at the squadron and wing level. Brig. Gen. Kaczor served in numerous joint positions including Current Operations Division Chief for U.S. Cyber Command, Computer Network Operations Branch Chief and Information Operations Planner for Special Operations Command Pacific and Chief of Protocol for U.S. Central Command forward.
She completed Senior Developmental Education at the National Defense University, Eisenhower School, where her paper on creating a cybersecurity culture earned the National Defense University President’s Strategic Vision Research and Writing Award. Her staff assignments include time as an action officer and executive officer to the Secretary of the Air Force Chief Information Officer (A6), Computer Network Operations and Information Operations Planner for Special Operations Command, Pacific and as the Current Operations Division Chief for U.S. Cyber Command.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.
1999 Basic Communications and Information Officers Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2001 Master of Science, Information Systems, University of Phoenix, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Warfighters Integration Course, Distance Learning Seminar
2006 PhD Candidate, All But Dissertation, Computer Information Systems, Nova Southeastern University, Fla.
2007 Advanced Communications and Information Officers Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2008 Joint Network Attack Course, Corry Station, Fla.
2009 Joint Information Operations Planners Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Va.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
2011 Denial and Deception Advanced Studies Program, Foreign Denial and Deception Committee, National Defense Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
2011 Certified Information Security Manager, Information Systems Audit and Control Association
2011 Cyber 300, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2016 Cyber 400, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2026 CAPSTONE Executive Development Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1999–February 2000, Chief, Network Administration, 10th Communications Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. February 2000–July 2001, Executive Officer, 10th Civil Engineer Group, USAF Academy, Colo.
3. July 2001–January 2003, Course Director and Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, USAF Academy, Colo.
4. January 2003–January 2004, Combat Support Flight Commander, 607th Combat Communications Squadron, Camp Humphreys, Korea
5. February 2004–April 2006, Maintenance Flight Commander, 17th Test Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
6. April 2006–July 2008, Information Systems Flight Commander and Director of Operations, 45th Space Communications Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
7. May 2007–September 2007, Chief of Protocol, U.S. Central Command Forward, Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar
8. July 2008–July 2010, Chief, Computer Network Operations, Special Operations Command, Pacific, Camp H. M. Smith Marine Corps Base, Hawaii
9. August 2010–July 2011, Student, National Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2011–April 2012, Chief, Enterprise Services Branch, Cyber Operations Directorate, Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer (SAF/CIO A6), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. May 2012–June 2013, Executive Officer to the Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer (SAF/CIO A6), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2013–July 2015, Commander, 33d Network Warfare Squadron, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
13. August 2015–July 2016, Deputy Commander, 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
14. August 2016–June 2017, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, D.C.
15. July 2017–May 2018, Cyber Battle Captain, Joint Operations Center, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
16. May 2018–May 2019, Division Chief, Current Operations, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
17. May 2019–January 2021, Vice Commander, White House Communications Agency, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
18. January 2021–June 2023, Commander, White House Communications Agency, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
19. July 2023–July 2025, Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. July 2025–present, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighter Communications and Cyber Systems, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. March 2026–present, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighter Communications and Cyber Systems, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2007–September 2007, Chief of Protocol, U.S. Central Command Forward, Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar
2. July 2008–July 2010, Chief, Computer Network Operations, Special Operations Command, Pacific, Camp H. M. Smith Marine Corps Base, Hawaii
3. July 2017–May 2018, Battle Captain, Joint Operations Center, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
4. May 2018–May 2019, Division Chief, Current Operations, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
5. May 2019–January 2021, Vice Commander, White House Communications Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
6. January 2021–June 2023, Commander, White House Communications Agency, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Communications and Information Officer of the Year, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2001 Young Alumnae Award, Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.
2005 Air Force International Test & Evaluation Association Test and Evaluation Team Achievement Award
2006 Air Force Space Command General Rawlings Team of the Year
2006 45th Space Wing Team Excellence Award of the Quarter, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
2006 14th Air Force Company Grade Officer of the Quarter and 14 AF CGO of the Year
2013 24th Air Force Best Cyberspace Operations Squadron of the Year
2013 24th Air Force Communications and Information General Rawlings Team of the Year
2017 National Defense University President’s Strategic Vision Research and Writing Award
2018 U.S. Cyber Command Team of the Quarter and Team of the Year
2019 U.S. Cyber Command Team of the Quarter
2022 Federal Computer Week “Fed 100” Award Recipient
(Current as of March 2026)