General MICHAEL A. GUETLEIN Gen. Michael A. Guetlein is the Direct Reporting Program Manager (DRPM), Golden Dome for America (GDA), reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. As the GDA DRPM, Gen. Guetlein is responsible for building a layered defense of the homeland, providing for the common defense of the American people against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles and other next-generation aerial attacks from near-peer and rogue nations. He leads the development of the $175 billion Golden Dome for America portfolio of capabilities, including establishing partnerships with industry, academia, national labs and other government agencies to rapidly develop and field next-generation defensive capabilities. Gen. Guetlein was commissioned through the ROTC program at Oklahoma State University in 1991. His military experience spans air and space capabilities and systems across special operations, global power projection, missile warning and detection, and counterspace mission areas. The general has commanded and led at the flight, squadron, division, directorate, Program Executive Officer and Field Command levels. Notable assignments include serving as the Vice Chief of the United States Space Force; Commander of Space Systems Command; Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; Program Executive for Programs and Integration at the Missile Defense Agency; Director of Remote Sensing Systems; Commander of the Rapid Reaction Squadron; the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; and a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow. EDUCATION 1991 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 1995 Master of Business Administration, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 1999 Master of Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 2002 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2004 Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va. 2005 Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I. 2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2011 Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program, SpaceX, Hawthorne, Calif. ASSIGNMENTS 1. September 1991–September 1993, AC-130U Gunship Support Manager, Special Operations Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 2. October 1993–August 1994, Chief, B-2 Bomber Propulsion, B-2 Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 3. August 1994–January 1996, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Engineering Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 4. January 1996–July 1996, AC-130U Gunship Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 5. July 1996–July 1997, AC-130H Gunship Flight Commander, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 6. July 1997–June 1999, Air Force Intern, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 7. June 1999–March 2002, Deputy Program Manager, Space-Based Infrared System Ground Segment, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 8. March 2002–March 2003, Director, Missile Warning Systems, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 9. March 2003–June 2004, Executive Officer, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 10. June 2004–June 2005, Student, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I. 11. June 2005–December 2006, Counterspace Program Element Monitor, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 12. December 2006–June 2008, Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 13. June 2008–July 2010, Commander, Rapid Reaction Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo. 14. July 2010–June 2011, Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow, Space Exploration Enterprises, Los Angeles, Calif. 15. June 2011–August 2014, Senior Materiel Leader, Space-Based Infrared System Production Division, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 16. September 2014–April 2017, Program Director, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 17. April 2017–June 2019, Program Executive for Programs and Integration, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. 18. July 2019–July 2021, Deputy Director and Space Force Element Commander, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. 19. August 2021–December 2023, Commander, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 20. December 2023–July 2025, Vice Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Arlington, Va. 21. July 2025–present, Direct Reporting Program Manager, Golden Dome for America, Arlington, Va. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. April 2017–June 2019, Program Executive for Programs and Integration, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., as a brigadier general 2. July 2025–present, Direct Reporting Program Manager, Golden Dome for America, Arlington, Va., as a general MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster (Current as of August 2025)