Dennis Bythewood
{{short description|U.S. Space Force general officer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Dennis Bythewood
| image = Maj Gen Dennis O. Bythewood.jpg
| image_size =
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| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{circa|{{birth year and age|1970}}}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
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| 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|Remote Sensing Systems Directorate
- 50th Operations Group
- Space Communications Operations Squadron, NRO}}
| battles =
| awards = Legion of Merit (2)
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|University of Vermont (BS)
| spouse = {{marriage|Jahnna Perkin|1998}}
| relations =
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Dennis O. Bythewood (born {{circa|1970}}) is a United States Space Force major general who served as the deputy commander of the United States Space Forces – Space. He previously served as the commander of Joint Task Force–Space Defense and deputy commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command.{{Cite web|url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/03/09/space-force-issues-two-more-contracts-for-protected-satcom/|title=These are the three companies developing payloads for Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM|first=Nathan|last=Strout|date=March 9, 2020|website=C4ISRNet}}
Education
- 1992 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
- 1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
- 2003 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL.
- 2004 Master of Business Administration, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, CO.
- 2007 Air War College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL.
Military career
File:Bythewood takes helm of Remote Sensing Systems Directorate 161228-F-DC888-101.jpg as he takes the helm of the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, 2016]]
Bythewood served as the director for special programs of the Space and Missile Systems Center. He was nominated in January 2021 for promotion to brigadier general and transfer to the United States Space Force.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/2830648/dennis-o-bythewood/|title=Brigadier General Dennis O. Bythewood|date=February 2024|website=United States Space Force|access-date=2024-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/44|title=PN44 - 4 nominees for Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|date=March 25, 2021|website=www.congress.gov}}
In April 2024, Bythewood was nominated for promotion to major general. His nomination was confirmed on May 2, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/1589|title=PN1587 — Space Force|website=U.S. Congress|date=2024-04-08 }} On May 3, 2024, he was promoted to major general.{{cite web|url=https://www.spaceforces-space.mil/News/Article/3766692/s4s-deputy-commander-promoted-to-major-general/|title=S4S Deputy Commander promoted to Major General|date=2024-05-06|website=U.S. Space Forces - Space}}
= Assignments =
File:New SECAF makes first visit to JTF-SD, space ops units (1).jpg Kendall at Schriever Space Force Base, 2021]]
1. October 1992 – June 1996, Range System Manager, 501st Range Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
2. July 1996 – August 1999, Electric Combat Analyst and Chief, Unmanned Air Vehicle Branch, Detachment 1, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
3. August 1999 – June 2002, Chief, Test and Certification, System Test Division, Milstar Joint Program Office, Los Angeles AFB, CA
4. July 2002 – October 2005, Chief of Engineering, Operations Support Flight Commander and Operations Officer, 4th Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
5. November 2005 – July 2007, Chief, MILSATCOM Operations Branch, HAF/DCS, Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans, Requirements, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
6. August 2007 – May 2009, Executive Officer, SAF/SO, Air Forces Smart Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. June 2009 – June 2011, Commander, Space Communications Operations Squadron, Network Operations Group, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Los Angeles, CA
8. July 2011 – July 2013, Materiel Leader, Space Based Infrared System Production, Infrared Space Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA
9. August 2013 – June 2014, Director, Ground Frontiers Office, Ground Enterprise Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, VA
10. July 2014 – June 2016, Commander, 50th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, CO
11. July 2016 – December 2016, Special Assistant to the Director, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, CA
12. December 2016 – October 2018, Senior Materiel Leader & Director, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, CA
13. October 2018 – July 2020, Director, Space Development Corps and Program Executive Officer for Space Development, Los Angeles AFB, CA
14. July 2020 – June 2021, Senior Materiel Leader and Director, Special Programs, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
15. July 2021 – November 2022, Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-Space Defense, U.S. Space Command Schriever AFB, Colo.
15. November 2022 – December 2023, Commander, Joint Task Force-Space Defense, U.S. Space Command Schriever AFB, Colo.
16. August 2023 – December 2023, Deputy Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
17. December 2023 – July 2024, Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Forces - Space, U.S. Space Command, Vandenberg SFB, Calif.
Personal life
Bythewood married Jahnna Perkin on October 24, 1998{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/297145093/|title=30 Sep 1998, 4 - Albuquerque Journal at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/412269800/|title=8 Mar 2000, 5 - The Billings Gazette at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}
Awards and decorations
Bythewood is the recipient of the following awards:
160px |
File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg |
File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png
|Air Staff Badge |
{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=60}}
|Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster |
{{ribbon devices|number=2|name=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}
|Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}}
|Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}}
|Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon|width=60}} |
{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}}
|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=60}} |
{{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}} |
{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Air and Space Campaign Medal ribbon|width=60}}
|Air and Space Campaign Medal with one bronze service star |
{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|name=Longevity Service Award USAF|width=60}}
|Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster |
{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=60}} |
Dates of promotion
class="wikitable"
|+ ! Rank !! Branch !! Date | ||
| {{Dodseal|USAFO1|75}} Second Lieutenant | rowspan=6|Air Force | May 15, 1992 |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO2|75}} First Lieutenant | June 1, 1994 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO3|75}} Captain | June 1, 1996 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO4|75}} Major | February 1, 2003 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO5|75}} Lieutenant Colonel | February 1, 2008 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO6|75}} Colonel | April 1, 2014 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO6|75}} Colonel | rowspan=3|Space Force | ~September 30, 2020 |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO7|75}} Brigadier General | August 17, 2021 | |
| {{Dodseal|USAFO8|75}} Major General | May 3, 2024 |
References
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Tommy A. Roberts}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the 50th Operations Group|years=2014–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Toby Doran}}
{{s-bef|before=Michael Guetlein}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director of the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate|years=2016–2018}}
{{s-non|reason=Directorate inactivated}}
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=Program Executive Officer for Space Development of the Space and Missile Systems Center|years=2018–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Timothy Sejba}}
{{s-bef|before=Stephen G. Purdy}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director of Special Programs of the Space and Missile Systems Center|years=2020–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Bradley Walker}}
{{s-bef|before=Christopher Povak}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force–Space Defense|years=2021–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Elizabeth Helland}}
{{s-bef|before=Thomas L. James}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander of Joint Task Force–Space Defense|years=2022–2023}}
{{s-non|reason=Commands inactivated|rows=2}}
{{s-bef|before=Zachary S. Warakomski}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command|years=2023}}
{{s-new|unit}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of the United States Space Forces – Space|years=2023–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Frank R. Kincaid}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bythewood, Dennis}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)