The vision and guidance of General Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., made an enduring contribution to our nation’s national security space leadership and the integration of space into our warfighting doctrine. Commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1962, Moorman served for 3 decades in a variety of key national security space positions in both acquisitions and operations. As such, he was involved in the fielding of virtually all the space systems currently in the military inventory and has been dedicated to the active development of the next generation of national security space leaders. In the early 1980s, Moorman was involved acutely in planning and organizing for the establishment of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).
As Commander and Vice Commander of AFSPC from 1990-1994, Moorman was responsible for operating military space systems, ground-based radar and missile warning satellites, the Nation’s space launch centers at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and the worldwide network of space surveillance radars, as well as maintaining the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force. As Commander of AFSPC during Operation DESERT STORM, he was responsible for providing Air Force space support to coalition forces. Notably, under Moorman’s leadership, this was the first time the full complement of existing space systems was employed in conflict.
Throughout his career, he led numerous high-impact studies on the direction and development of U.S. interests in space, most importantly to determine the strategy for the nation’s space launch capability. That strategy forms the basis of current launch policy and procurement activity. His last military assignment was as Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, where he was responsible for day-to-day activities of the Air Staff, chairing the Air Force Council, representing the Air Force on interagency organizations and efforts such as the Quadrennial Defense Review, and chairing the USAF Board of Directors charged with developing the Air Force strategic vision for the twenty-first century.
Since retirement as a four-star general, he has served as vice president of a leading international consulting firm, and on a number of business and military boards and groups. In 1999, General Moorman was invited to serve as a Commissioner on the Congressionally-directed Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization. The conclusions of that commission have fueled the recent reorganization of our national security space community and a renewed focus on the future of Nation’s national security space endeavors.
