Cordell DeLaPena is the Program Executive Officer for Space Production, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. As the PEO, he orchestrates space production programs in missile warning, space superiority, communications, weather and navigation worth more than $13 billion. He is responsible for multiservice, multinational systems, as well as the training and equipping of more than 800 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, Chemistry, Gettysburg College, Pa.
1984 Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown
1989 Master of Science, Management Science, University of Dayton, Ohio
1990 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1992 Rapporteur, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
1998 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar
2006 Academic Distinction, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Executive Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2014 Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Defense Senior Leader Orientation Course, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.; and Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1985–December 1986, Aircraft Modification Operations Manager, Projects Division, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. December 1986–October 1988, Aircraft Modification Manager, Special Projects Division, 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. October 1988–January 1990, Program Manager, Aeronautical Equipment Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. January 1990–February 1990, Student, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. February 1990–July 1991, Program Manager, Aircrew Protection, Armstrong Laboratories, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. July 1991–June 1994, Program Manager, Airborne Early Warning and Control System Radar System Improvement Program, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
7. June 1994–June 1995, Executive Officer, AWACS Program Office, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
8. June 1995–August 1996, Program Manager, AWACS Offensive Counter-Air Programs, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
9. August 1996–June 1997, Chief, System Test Division, Office of Science and Technology, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force/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, Fort 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, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Architecture Team, National Security Space Office, Fairfax, Va.
16. July 2005–May 2006, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
17. May 2006–July 2008, Director, Airborne ISR 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, Mass.
19. July 2010–March 2011, Senior Materiel Leader, Airborne Network Division, Air Force Program Executive Office for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
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, Mass.
21. March 2014–August 2019, Director, Program Management and Integration Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
22. August 2019–present, Program Executive Officer for Space Production, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 National Reconnaissance Office Bronze Medal; Director’s Circle Award Winner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force/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 Department of Defense 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 February 2021)