Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson is the Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. He is responsible for approximately 6,000 employees nationwide and an annual budget of $9 billion. As the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, General Thompson manages the research, design, development, acquisition and sustainment of satellites and the associated command and control systems. His extensive portfolio includes military satellite communication, missile warning, navigation and timing, space-based weather, space launch and test ranges, certification for launch, space superiority, responsive space and other emerging evolutionary space programs.

Lt. Gen. Thompson entered the Air Force in 1984 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of scientific, acquisition and logistics-oriented capacities, including staff assignments at Air Force Systems Command, Air Force Materiel Command and in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. 

The general has been Chief of the Commodities Division, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Utah, and Chief of the Air Vehicle Division, C-17 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He also served as Director of Propulsion, Oklahoma City ALC, Okla.; and Chief of Staff, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB. He has commanded the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla., and the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where he served as Air Force Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. General Thompson has also served as Air Force Program Executive Officer for Strategic Systems, Deputy Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program, and KC-46 Program Director.

Prior to assuming his current position, Lt. Gen. Thompson was Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

EDUCATION 
1984 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 
1988 Master of Science degree in industrial engineering, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas 
1989 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 Advanced Program Management Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 
2001 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2006 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y. 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal 
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal 
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters 
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
Air Force Achievement Medal 
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 
1990 Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 
Second Lieutenant Dec. 19, 1984 
First Lieutenant Dec. 19, 1986 
Captain Dec. 19, 1988 
Major Nov. 1, 1994 
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1998 
Colonel Aug. 1, 2002 
Brigadier General Dec. 5, 2008 
Major General Nov.18, 2011
Lieutenant General Oct. 2, 2014