Christopher Povak

{{short description|U.S. Space Force general}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox military person

|name= Christopher Povak

|image= Maj Gen Christopher S. Povak (2).jpg

|image_size=

|alt=

|caption= Official portrait, 2023

|nickname=

|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1970|11|26}}

|birth_place= Connecticut, U.S.

|death_date=

|death_place=

|placeofburial=

|allegiance= United States

|branch= {{plainlist|United States Air Force

|branch_label=Branch

|serviceyears= {{plainlist|1992–2021 (Air Force)

  • 2021–present (Space Force)}}

|rank= Major General

|servicenumber=

|unit=

|commands={{plainlist|Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office

|alma_mater={{plainlist|Clarkson University (BS)

|battles=

|awards={{plainlist|Defense Superior Service Medal (3)

}}

Christopher Stephen Povak{{Cite web|url=https://sortedbybirthdate.com/small_pages/1970/19701126_1003.html|title = Persons born on 26 November 1970, EDITH V. MICKEL to JAMES COREY SIMPSON}} (born November 26, 1970) is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office and commander of the Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office. He previously served as the deputy director of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1905497/general-officer-assignments/|title=General Officer Assignments|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1701071/general-officer-announcements/|title=General Officer Announcements|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nro.gov/News/News-Articles/Article/1967891/adf-colorado-hails-middleton-farewells-briggen-povak/|title=ADF-Colorado hails Middleton, farewells Brig.Gen. Povak|website=National Reconnaissance Office}}

Povak received his commission from Clarkson University in 1992. He has extensive experience in satellite operations, engineering, and acquisitions with the Air Force Space Command and National Reconnaissance Office. He has commanded NRO's Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, Air Force Element at RAF Menwith Hill, and Operations Division 7. He has also served as a military legislative advisor to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/2830912/christopher-s-povak/|title=Major General Christopher S. Povak|date=October 2023|website=United States Space Force|access-date=2024-01-01}}

In 2021, Povak transferred to the Space Force. A year later, he was promoted to major general. As deputy director of the NRO, he assists the director in managing the strategic and tactical priorities of the NRO. He also leads the military personnel assigned to NRO, manages the associated service resources, and serves as senior advisor to the director on all military matters.

Education

  • 1992 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y.
  • 1997 Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
  • 1998 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Colorado Technical University, Colo.
  • 1999 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2005 Master of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2005 Air Command and Staff College, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2011 Senior Executive Fellowship, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
  • 2012 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • 2012 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Military career

In September 2022, Povak was nominated for promotion to major general.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2514?s=1&r=42|title=PN2514 — Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|date=6 September 2022|website=United States Congress|access-date=7 September 2022}}{{PD-notice}}

Assignments

File:SecDef Austin tours USSPACECOM (7).jpg Austin, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 2021]]

1. March 1993–July 1996, Air Force Satellite Control Network Capacity Engineer, 50th Space Wing Plans, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.

2. August 1996–August 1997, Flight Commander, Operating Division 4/DC, Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif.

3. September 1997–May 2000, Chief, Space Systems Engineering, Operating Division 4/DC, Onizuka AFS, Calif.

4. June 2000–May 2002, Director of Operations, Air Force Operations Element, Washington, D.C.

5. June 2002–August 2003, Director of Engineering, Air Force Operations Element, Washington, D.C.

6. September 2003–July 2004, Congressional Fellow, Office of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Washington, D.C.

7. August 2004–June 2005, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

8. June 2005–July 2006, Chief, Space Programs Planning, Programming, and Budgeting, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

9. August 2006–July 2007, Chief, Congressional and Media Affairs Branch, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

10. August 2007–June 2008, Program Element Monitor, Transformational Satellite Communications, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

11. July 2008–June 2010, Commander, Operations Division 7 and Deputy Chief Overhead Collection Management Center, Fort George G. Meade, Md.

12. July 2010–July 2011, Executive Officer to the Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.

13. August 2011–June 2012, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D. C.

14. July 2012–July 2015, Commander, Air Force Element, RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom

15. August 2015–May 2016, Deputy Director, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.

16. June 2016–August 2019, Commander, Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, Buckley AFB, Colo.

17. June 2016–August 2019, Commander, Air Force Element Space Operations Wing, Buckley AFB, Colo. (December 2018–June 2019, Acting Commander, Air Force Element, NRO, Chantilly, Va.)

18. September 2019 – July 2021, Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Space Defense, Schriever AFB, Colo

19. July 2021 – September 2022, Deputy Director, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Washington D.C.

20. September 2022- present, Deputy Director and Space Force Element Commander, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.

Awards and decorations

Povak is the recipient of the following awards:

160px

|Command Space Operations Badge

File:Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge.jpg

|Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge

File:Space Staff Identification Badge.png

|Space Staff Badge

File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png

|Air Staff Badge

{{ribbon devices|number=2|name=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=60}}

|Legion of Merit

{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Joint Service Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Joint Service Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon|width=60}}

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=AF OS Tour Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|name=Longevity Service Award USAF|width=60}}

|Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=USAF Marksmanship ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

class="wikitable"

|+

! Rank !! Branch !! Date

| {{Dodseal|USAFO1|75}} Second Lieutenantrowspan=7|Air ForceMay 15, 1992
| {{Dodseal|USAFO2|75}} First LieutenantOctober 15, 1994
| {{Dodseal|USAFO3|75}} CaptainOctober 15, 1996
| {{Dodseal|USAFO4|75}} MajorApril 1, 2003
| {{Dodseal|USAFO5|75}} Lieutenant ColonelDecember 1, 2006
| {{Dodseal|USAFO6|75}} ColonelMay 1, 2012
| {{Dodseal|USAFO7|75}} Brigadier GeneralMarch 2, 2019
| {{Dodseal|USAFO7|75}} Brigadier Generalrowspan=2|Space Force~April 29, 2021
| {{Dodseal|USAFO8|75}} Major GeneralSeptember 29, 2022

References

{{commons category|Christopher S. Povak}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=???}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the Air Force Element at RAF Menwith Hill|years=2013–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Todd R. Moore}}

{{s-bef|before=Daniel D. Wright III}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado|years=2016–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Jacob Middleton Jr.}}

{{s-bef|before=Mark Baird}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
{{small|Acting}}|years=2018–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Michael Guetlein}}

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force–Space Defense|years=2019–2021}}

{{s-aft|after=Dennis Bythewood}}

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center|years=2021–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Russell E. Partch}}

{{s-bef|before=Donna D. Shipton}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director of and Commander of the Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office|years=2022–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Povak, Christopher}}

Category:Living people

Category:United States Air Force generals

Category:United States Space Force generals

Category:1970 births