Airman receives General O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award

  • Published
  • By Maj. Vanessa Hillman
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AFB, Colo. (AFNS) --  The General Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award was awarded to an Air Force Space Command Airman during the sixth annual Space and Cyberspace Symposium June 15 in Keystone, Colo.

Brig. Gen. David D. Thompson, the director of air, space and cyberspace operations for Air Force Space Command here, received the award from the Lance P. Sijan chapter of the Air Force Association.

Thompson was selected for the award in recognition of his outstanding leadership throughout his 26-year career, "delivering space capabilities to support national objectives and integrating space effects into combat operations," according to the citation accompanying the award. In addition, at the United States Air Force Warfare Center, he focused weapons system testing, tactics development and advanced training to ensure more effective integration of air, space and cyber operations in support of theater commanders.

On hand for the award presentation was the daughter of General O'Malley, Sharon O'Malley, who shared her thoughts on the progress AFSPC's Airmen have made in the development of a separate major command for space operation, something her father fought for throughout his career.

"I just wish he (O'Malley) could channel a message to me today that communicated how proud he is of you 30 years later implementing his vision," she said.

"How you've created this environment that gives a greater safety to all of us and helps me get home at night with GPS," she joked.

Upon receiving the award, Thompson thanked the AFA leadership and chapter members, but not just for the award.

"I appreciate this very much, but more importantly I appreciate the broader support you (AFA) provide to make us a better Air Force," Thompson said.

He also added, "to have someone say that I measure up to General O'Malley's standard of leadership ... to read the list of past awardees, and to have someone say that I measure up to that standard of leadership ... I am truly humbled by this award."

Sharon O'Malley's final thoughts further praised the work AFSPC Airmen have made throughout the years in the development of space capabilities.

"You're doing what he (O'Malley) argued for, which was to create a safer planet," Sharon O'Malley said. "We didn't do it to create a better Air Force; we did it to create a better world."

The Lance P. Sijan Chapter of the AFA established the General Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award to recognize the contributions of leaders in achieving O'Malley's vision of "providing an intensified space focus and reorienting Air Force philosophy toward an operational approach by advocating the operational use of space systems at the highest levels of the Air Force."

Past recipients of the General Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award are:
2002 Lt. Gen. Roger DeKok
2003 Gen. John Jumper
2004 Maj. Gen. Richard Webber
2004 Lt. Gen. Larry James
2005 Brig. Gen. Theresa Djuric
2006 Lt. Randall Claar
2007 Brig. Gen. Jay Raymond
2008 Col. Stephen Whiting
2009 Maj. Gen. John Hyten
2009 Gen. James Cartwright
2010 Gen. C. Robert Kehler