Thompson New Head of Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center
Lt. Gen. John Thompson took over as head of Air Force Space Command’s (AFSC’s) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) today, succeeding Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves. Greaves is assuming command of the Missile Defense Agency.
Thompson was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on September 15, 2016. His previous post was commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, CA, SMC reports to Air Force Space Command and develops, acquires, fields and sustains military space systems. It employs about 6,300 military and civilian personnel and contractors.
Lt. Gen. John Thompson. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force
A change of command ceremony was held today where the flag was officially passed from Lt. Gen. Greaves to Lt. Gen. Thompson.
The flag has been passed. LtGen Thompson is now SMC Commander. Welcome to the SMC family, Sir. #ChangeOfCommand pic.twitter.com/SUT86z5JRk
— AF SMC (@AF_SMC) May 22, 2017
Thompson has a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master of science in industrial engineering from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Among his most recent posts, he served as Air Force Program Executive Officer for Strategic Systems at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Tanker Program Executive Officer and KC-46 Program Director, Tanker Directorate, AFLCMC; Air Force Program Executive Officer for Tankers, Tanker Directorate, AFLCMC; and commander of AFLCMC.
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