Kathryn D. Parks, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Weapon Systems Integration, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. She is responsible for integration and total life cycle management of the Sentinel and Minuteman III systems, including development, production and sustainment of related systems needed to meet the nation’s strategic deterrence needs. She is dual-hatted as the Air Force Deputy Program Executive Officer for ICBMs.
From 2006 to 2018, Parks held multiple positions of increasing responsibility at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, California, working with international partners on communication satellites, managing the consolidated command and control ground system for four constellations of communication satellites and defining the future of launch services for the national security space enterprise.
In 2018, she moved to the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., and directed two highly classified space programs. In 2020, she was selected to become the Deputy Director for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office’s Advanced Space Capabilities Group and was responsible for the overall acquisition planning, cost, schedule and performance of a multibillion-dollar portfolio of classified space-related programs.
Prior to her current position, Parks was the Deputy Director of the Capability Delivery Directorate for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts, Communication and Spanish, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
2006 Master of Arts, International Affairs (U.S. Foreign Policy), American University, Washington, D.C.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Executive Leadership Development Program, Washington, D.C.
2018 Program Manager’s Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2023 Master of Science, National Security and Resource Strategy (Senior Acquisition Concentration), National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2006–August 2007, Management Analyst, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
2. September 2007–October 2010, International Partners Branch Chief, Advanced Extremely High Frequency Program Office, SMC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
3. October 2010–January 2013, Production Lead, Command and Control System-Consolidated Program Office, SMC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
4. January 2013–February 2014, Program Manager, CCS-C Program Office, SMC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
5. February 2014–February 2018, Launch Acquisition Branch Chief, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program Office, SMC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
6. February 2018–July 2020, Program Director, Advanced Space Capabilities Group, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
7. July 2020–July 2022, Deputy Director, Advanced Space Capabilities Group, DAF RCO, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2022–June 2023, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2023–August 2024, Deputy Director, Capability Delivery Directorate, Office of the Assistance Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. August 2024–August 2025, Deputy Program Executive Officer for ICBMs, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah
11. August 2025-present, Deputy Program Executive Officer for ICBMs and Director, ICBM Weapon Systems Integration, AFNWC, Hill AFB, Utah
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 Distinguished Graduate, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
PUBLICATIONS
“Art and Algorithm: Intellectual Property Valuation and Data Rights Pricing,” The Exceptional Release: Professional Military Logistics Journal, July 2023
(Current as of September 2025)