Mr. Cordell DeLaPena is the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Military Communications (MilComm) & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. As the PEO, he manages and oversees development, production, delivery, and maintenance of critical and innovative Communications and PNT systems worth more than $22.3 billion. He is responsible for multiservice, multinational systems, as well as the training and equipping of more than 1800 military and civilian personnel.
Mr. DeLaPena entered the Air Force in 1985 after receiving his commission through Officer Training School. From 1985 to 2014 he has served in a variety of acquisition and leadership positions within the Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office. In 2014, he retired from active duty in the rank of Colonel and entered civil service as a member of the Senior Executive Service. As the director of the Program Management and Integration Directorate he advised the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space on weapon system management, acquisition, integration and analysis.
Mr. DeLaPena is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College’s Executive Program Manager Course. He is a designated member of the Defense Acquisition Workforce and is certified Level III in Program Management and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Gettysburg College, PA
1984 Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, WV 1989 Master of Science in Management Science, University of Dayton, OH
1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1992 Rapporteur, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, MA 1998 Air Command and Staff College (seminar), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2006 Air War College (residence), Academic Distinction, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2010 Executive Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA
2014 Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Joint Base Andrews, MD
2015 Defense Senior Leader Orientation Course (APEX), Pentagon, Washington DC; and Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro NC
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1985 – December 1986, Aircraft Modification Operations Manager, Projects Division, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
2. December 1986 – October 1988, Aircraft Modification Manager, Special Projects Division, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
3. October 1988 – Jan 1990, Program Manager, Aeronautical Equipment Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
4. Jan 1990 – February 1990, Student, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
5. February 1990 – July 1991, Program Manager, Aircrew Protection, Armstrong Laboratories, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, OH
6. July 1991 – June 1994, Program Manager, AWACS Radar System Improvement Program, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
7. June 1994 – June 1995, Executive Officer, AWACS Program Office, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
8. June 1995 – August 1996, Program Manager, AWACS Offensive Counter-Air Programs, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
9. August 1996 – June 1997, Chief, System Test Division, Office of Science and Technology, Assistant SECAF/Space, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C.
10. June 1997 – May 1999, Chief, Transition Operations Division, Space Operations Site, Assistant SECAF/Space, Washington, D.C.
11. May 1999 – July 1999, Student, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA
12. July 1999 – July 2000, Director, Transition Operations Division, Space Operations Site, Assistant SECAF/Space, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2000 – May 2001, Staff Director, Air Force Program Executive Office for Command & Control and Combat Support, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2001 – March 2002, Executive Officer, Air Force Program Executive Office for Command & Control and Combat Support, Washington, D.C.
15. March 2002 – July 2005, Chief, ISR Architecture Team, National Security Space Office, Fairfax, VA
16. July 2005 – May 2006, Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL; Academic Distinction
17. May 2006 – July 2008, Director, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Systems, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Washington, D.C.
18. July 2008 – June 2010, Commander, 653d Electronic Systems Group, 653d Electronic Systems Wing, Hanscom AFB, MA.
19. July 2010 – March 2011, Senior Materiel Leader, Airborne Network Division, Air Force Program Executive Office for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, Hanscom AFB, MA.
20.March 2011 – February 2014, Senior Materiel Leader, Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals, Air Force Program Executive Office for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, Hanscom AFB, MA.
21. March 2014 – August 2019, Director, Program Management and Integration Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA.
22. August 2019 – March 2022, Program Executive Officer for Space Production, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
23. March 2022 – Present, Program Executive Officer for Military Communication (MilComm) & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 olc), AF Meritorious Service Medal (1 olc), AF Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, AF Achievement Medal (1 olc)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 National Reconnaissance Office Bronze Medal; Director’s Circle Award Winner, Assistant SECAF/Space
2004 Department of Defense Modeling & Simulation Team Award
2005 National Security Space Office Team of the Year Award
2009 John J. Welch, Jr. Award for Acquisition Leadership
2009 Order of Daedalians Weapons Systems Award; Outstanding DoD Development Program
2010 Air Force Materiel Command Outstanding Analytical Team of the Year
2010 Electronic Systems Center System Program Office of the Year
(Current as of March 2022)