BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD R. WALKER
Brig. Gen. Donald R. Walker is director, Office of Special Projects, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
General Walker was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and graduated from Frontier Central High School, Hamburg, N.Y., in 1962. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering science from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1966, a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California in 1971 and a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University in 1980. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1971, Air Command and Staff College in 1980, and Air War College as a distinguished graduate in 1985.
Upon graduation from the academy, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. In June 1966 he was assigned as a propulsion project engineer in the Titan III Systems Program Office, Space and Missile Systems Organization, Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif. From September 1969 to February 1971 the general was a graduate student at the University of Southern California through the Air Force Institute of Technology program. General Walker then was assigned as a project engineer in the Service Engineering Division, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
He was transferred to Sunnyvale Air Force Station, Calif., in June 1974, as a mission director at the Air Force Satellite Control Facility. The general was assigned to the Office of Space Systems, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, in June 1980 as director of National Space Systems Planning, and deputy director for systems and technology. In June 1985 he returned to Los Angeles Air Force Station as director of operations, Office of Special Projects, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
In July 1986 General Walker returned to Sunnyvale, Calif., to serve as the last commander of the Air Force Satellite Control Facility and the first commander of the Consolidated Space Test Center, Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif. He was responsible for a worldwide satellite control network and mission control center, which provided on-orbit support to more than 55 Department of Defense spacecraft.
In November 1987 General Walker became program director, Defense Satellite Communications System, Space Systems Division, Los Angeles Air Force Base. He was responsible for the acquisition and operation of the DSCS, NATO III, Fleet Satellite Communications and Air Force Satellite Communications satellite programs. In January 1989 General Walker returned to the Pentagon to become director of the Office of Space Systems, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He was responsible for providing operational, technical and programmatic planning and analysis of space systems for the assistant secretary of the Air Force (Space). He assumed his current position in December 1992.
The general's military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters, and National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is a member of the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honorary Fraternity. In 1987 the general was chosen as an honorary chief master sergeant by the Air Force Systems Command.
He was promoted to brigadier general May 1, 1990, with same date of rank.
(Current as of May 1993)
General Walker was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and graduated from Frontier Central High School, Hamburg, N.Y., in 1962. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering science from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1966, a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California in 1971 and a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University in 1980. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1971, Air Command and Staff College in 1980, and Air War College as a distinguished graduate in 1985.
Upon graduation from the academy, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. In June 1966 he was assigned as a propulsion project engineer in the Titan III Systems Program Office, Space and Missile Systems Organization, Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif. From September 1969 to February 1971 the general was a graduate student at the University of Southern California through the Air Force Institute of Technology program. General Walker then was assigned as a project engineer in the Service Engineering Division, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
He was transferred to Sunnyvale Air Force Station, Calif., in June 1974, as a mission director at the Air Force Satellite Control Facility. The general was assigned to the Office of Space Systems, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, in June 1980 as director of National Space Systems Planning, and deputy director for systems and technology. In June 1985 he returned to Los Angeles Air Force Station as director of operations, Office of Special Projects, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
In July 1986 General Walker returned to Sunnyvale, Calif., to serve as the last commander of the Air Force Satellite Control Facility and the first commander of the Consolidated Space Test Center, Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif. He was responsible for a worldwide satellite control network and mission control center, which provided on-orbit support to more than 55 Department of Defense spacecraft.
In November 1987 General Walker became program director, Defense Satellite Communications System, Space Systems Division, Los Angeles Air Force Base. He was responsible for the acquisition and operation of the DSCS, NATO III, Fleet Satellite Communications and Air Force Satellite Communications satellite programs. In January 1989 General Walker returned to the Pentagon to become director of the Office of Space Systems, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He was responsible for providing operational, technical and programmatic planning and analysis of space systems for the assistant secretary of the Air Force (Space). He assumed his current position in December 1992.
The general's military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters, and National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is a member of the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honorary Fraternity. In 1987 the general was chosen as an honorary chief master sergeant by the Air Force Systems Command.
He was promoted to brigadier general May 1, 1990, with same date of rank.
(Current as of May 1993)