JESSICA P. POWERS Ms. Jessica P. Powers, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements at United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As the Deputy Chief Strategy and Resourcing Officer, Ms. Powers assists the Chief Strategy and Resourcing Officer in his/her responsibility for the strategies, requirements and budget of the United States Space Force. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Powers served as the Deputy Director for Concepts and Strategy in the United States Air Force. Previously, Ms. Powers served as the Principal Director for China in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Previous assignments in DoD include directing international, commercial and Congressional engagements on outer space policy; managing the $2.5B budget and financial operations for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; overseeing bilateral defense relations with Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Island nations and mainland Southeast Asia; and coordinating defense plans and programs in the former Soviet Union and the Balkans. Before joining the DoD, Ms. Powers was the Managing Editor for the Environmental Change and Security Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In addition to her experience in the Federal government, she has worked in the private sector. EDUCATION 1996 Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, International Studies, American University, Washington, D.C. 2000 Master of Arts, International Affairs, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 2010 Master of Science, Distinguished Graduate, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C. CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. 1997–2000, Managing Editor and Project Assistant, Woodrow Wilson International Center, Washington, D.C. 2. 2000–2002, Presidential Management Fellow, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. 3. 2002–2004, Coordinator for Plans and Programs for Eurasia, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 4. 2004–2009, County Director for Southeast Asia, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 5. 2010–2011, Director for Finance, Audits, and Internal Controls, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 6. 2011–2015, Director for Space Policy Engagement, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 7. 2015–2016, Inaugural Cohort, White House Leadership Development Fellow, Washington, D.C. 8. 2016–2017, Special Assistant for Transition, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 9. 2017-2017, Chief of Staff for Special Operations and Counterterrorism, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 10. 2017–2019, Deputy Director for Defeat-ISIS, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 11. 2019–2022, Principal Director for China, OSD (Policy), Washington, D.C. 12. 2022–2024, Deputy Director for Concepts and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 13. December 2024–present, Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 2021 Secretary of Defense Award for Meritorious Civilian Service with bronze palm 2021 Office of the Secretary of Defense Group Achievement Award, DASD China Establishment 2021 OSD Group Achievement Award, Establishment of FDMM 2017 OSD Award for Exceptional Civilian Service 2015 Secretary of Defense Award for Meritorious Civilian Service 2009 OSD Award for Exceptional Civilian Service 2007 OSD Award for Excellence, Implementation of Section 1206, NDAA 2005 OSD Unit Award, Tsunami Relief 2005 OSD Policy Special Service Award, Tsunami Relief, March (Current as of March 2025)