SMC Commander Receives Peter B. Teets Award

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lieutenant General Ellen Pawlikowski, Space and Missile Systems Center commander, is this year's recipient of the Peter B. Teets Award for exemplary government service. The award was presented by the National Defense Industrial Association at a dinner held in Chantilly Va., June 24.

Named for Peter Teets, a former undersecretary of the Air Force and
National Reconnaissance Office director, the award recognizes both public and private sector leaders for their contributions to the development and support of space systems. This year's private sector winner is Dr. Wanda Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation.

In the award citation, NDIA cites the general for her "focus on mission success, integrity, support to the warfighter and taking care of her people - making her a leader most deserving of the 2012 Peter B. Teets Award."

The award citation notes that under General Pawlikowski's leadership,
ORS-1, the CHIRP developmental payload and seven National Security Space missions were launched. These launches extend SMC's track record to nearly 80 successful launches in a row.

General Pawlikowski has been the SMC commander for more than two years. She was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1978. Previously, she served as SMC's Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing commander and SMC's vice commander. Between her previous and current assignments here, General Pawlikowski served as the NRO's deputy director and the Air Force Research Lab commander.

As SMC commander, the general is responsible for more than 5,000 employees nationwide and an annual budget of approximately $10 billion.