Brigadier General Steven J. Spano

Brigadier General Steven J. Spano is the Director of Communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA.  He is the functional leader for 15,000 communications professionals, providing information technology services to 101,500 active duty military and civilian members at 30 major installations in the United States and overseas.  General Spano directs the activities of 40 Reserve communications units upon their activation.  He is responsible for policy guidance, program management and resource allocation supporting the command’s mission to provide nuclear forces for U.S. Strategic Command, theater air forces for the U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command, as well as air defense forces for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

General Spano was born and raised in Albany, New York.  He graduated from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont in 1983 and received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.  General Spano commanded at the detachment, squadron, and group level.  In addition, he served in key joint assignments at the National Security Agency, the Joint Staff, United States Forces Korea, and most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff Communications and Information Systems, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.    General Spano is married to the former Ms. Kimberly McConkey of Albany, New York.  They have three children, Stephanie, Erica, and Sarah.  

EDUCATION:

1983   Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont

1985   Master of Administrative Science, Management, Johns Hopkins University,

           Baltimore, Maryland

1986   Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

1994   Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

1994   Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia

1998   Air War College (Correspondence)

2000   Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Air War College (Residence), Maxwell AFB, 

           Alabama

2006   Senior Executive Fellows, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

ASSIGNMENTS: 

1.   October 1983 to June 1984, Student, Communications-Electronics Officer Course, 

      Keesler AFB, Mississippi

2.   June 1984 to February 1987, Systems Security Program Manager, National Security 

      Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland

3.   October 1986 to December 1986, Student, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, 

      Alabama

4.   February 1987 to June 1989, Director of Operations, 2115th Communications Squadron, 

      Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece

5.   June 1989 to October 1991, Commander, Detachment 12, 435th Communications Group,  

      Rhein Main Air Base, Germany

6.   October 1991 to July 1993, 7th Communications Group, Pentagon, Washington, DC

7.   July 1993 to June 1994, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

8.   June 1994 to August 1994, Student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia

9.   August 1994 to June 1997, Information Assurance Action Officer, Joint Staff, J6, Pentagon,

      Washington, DC

10.  June 1997 to July 1999, Commander, 374th Communications Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan

11.  August 1999 to June 2000, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

12.  June 2000 to June 2002, Assistant Chief of Staff, J6, Headquarters United States Forces,    

       Korea

13.  July 2002 to December 2003, Commander, 89th Communications Group, Andrews AFB, 

       Maryland

14.  January 2004 to November 2007, Director, Communications, Headquarters United 

       States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany

15.  November 2007 to Nov 2008, Director, Communications and Information Systems, Multi-National Force – Iraq,

       Baghdad, Iraq

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

Bronze Star Medal

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters

Order of National Security Merit, Samil Medal, Republic of Korea

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Iraq Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Korean Defense Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: 

Company Grade Officer of the Year, Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece, 1988

Company Grade Officer of the Year, European Communications Division, 1989

Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1986

Air Force General Edwin W. Rawlins Award for Innovative Use of C4 Resources, 1991

Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1994

Federal Computer Week’s Top 100 Chief Information Officers, 2007

Computer World’s Premier 100 IT Leaders, 2008

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION: 

Second Lieutenant  1983

First Lieutenant  1985

Captain  1987

Major   1994

Lieutenant Colonel  1997

Colonel   2000

Brigadier General 2007

BIOGRAPHY

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE