Brigadier General NIKKI R. FRANKINO Brig. Gen. Nikki Frankino is the Legislative Liaison, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, she serves as the Liaison between the Space Force and Congress on all programs, weapons systems and issues, including legislative and constituent inquiries. Brig. Gen. Frankino collaborates directly with the House of Representatives and Senate to secure the resources and authorities of the Space Force’s annual budget and assist Congress in its constitutionally directed oversight responsibilities. Brig. Gen. Frankino also prepares the Chief of Space Operations and other Space Force leaders, for engagements and testimony on Capitol Hill. Brig. Gen. Frankino entered the Air Force in May 1998 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. She has served in a variety of space operations and staff positions in Air Force Space Command, the Pentagon and the National Reconnaissance Office. Her notable tours include Executive Officer to the Deputy Director of the NRO, Chief of Staff of the Ground Enterprise Directorate, Commander of the Operations Support Squadron at Aerospace Data Facility - East (ADF-E), Commander, Delta 21, Deputy Commander, ADF-E, and Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Frankino was the Division Chief, House Liaison Office, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. EDUCATION 1998 Bachelor of Science, Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2003 Master of Science, Administration, Central Michigan University, via Minot Air Force Base, N.D. 2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2010 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. 2019 Master of Science, National Security and Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. May 1998–July 1999, Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. 2. July 1999–July 2003, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Wing Emergency War Order Instructor, Minot AFB, N.D. 3. July 2003–July 2006, Test Program Manager and Executive Officer, NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 4. July 2006–July 2009, Flight Commander, Processing Operations, Data Masked 5. July 2009–July 2010, Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. 6. July 2010–July 2013, Branch Chief, Space Superiority Branch, Directorate of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Analyses Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 7. July 2013–July 2014, Deputy Division Chief, DoD Executive Agent for Space Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 8. July 2014–July 2016, Squadron Commander, Operations Support Squadron, National Reconnaissance Office, Fort Belvoir, Va. 9. July 2016–July 2017, Chief of Staff, Ground Enterprise Directorate, NRO, Chantilly, Va. 10. July 2017–July 2018, Executive Officer, Deputy Director of the NRO, NRO, Chantilly, Va. 11. July 2018–July 2019, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 12. July 2019–July 2021, Senior Military Evaluator for Space, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. 13. July 2021–June 2023, Commander, Delta 21, and Deputy Commander, NRO, Aerospace Data Facility - East, Fort Belvoir, Va. 14. June 2023–July 2024, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 15. July 2024–May 2025 Chief, House Liaison Division, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 16. May 2025–present, Space Force Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. July 2019–July 2021, Senior Military Evaluator for Space, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., as a colonel MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award Combat Readiness Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air and Space Campaign Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ device OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 1999 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training OCCUPATIONAL BADGES Master Space Operations Badge Basic Missile Badge (Current as of July 2025)