AURORA, Colo. – U.S. Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), promoted the first NGB director of space operations, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory T. White, to major general at Buckley Air Force Base May 20.
Upon the establishment of the U.S. Space Force in December 2019, Lengyel chose White to stand up the National Guard Space Operations directorate, the single point of entry and voice regarding all things space for NGB.
“Space Operations’ top priority is to transition our National Guard space missions and space professionals over to the Space Force,” Lengyel said. “Maj. Gen. White and his team have a challenging transition ahead to ensure the National Guard does our part to provide a ready and capable space force that is Always Ready, Always There.”
White served in various assignments throughout the Colorado National Guard and, notably, as the commander of the 233rd Space Group, 140th Wing, the first space group in the Air National Guard to operate the one-of-a-kind, survivable and endurable missile warning system, the Mobile Ground System.
“I’m incredibly honored,” White said. “It’s the privilege of a career to represent the tremendous National Guard space professionals across our nation and to be able to lead an incredibly talented National Guard Bureau Space Operations team to work with the new United States Space Force on establishing the first new Reserve component in the U.S. military since 1947.”
While the Space National Guard has not yet been established, Lengyel is working to make it a reality.
“Establishing a Space National Guard to sustainably support the USSF is one of my top priorities,” Lengyel said. “We continue to make the case.”
“It’s obviously quite an honor to be promoted by the chief, National Guard Bureau, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” White said, “But it’s also special to me because I worked directly for Gen. Lengyel when he was the Air National Guard Readiness Center commander and I was the director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from 2006 to 2008, so we have a shared history.”
This will serve as not only a promotion ceremony for White but also a goodbye to his fellow Colorado National Guard members, as he plans to culminate his military career at NGB in the Washington, D.C., area.
“The shared experiences, in Colorado and downrange, and the many, many friendships will endure,” White said. “I look forward to seeing everyone again when my family and I return to retire in Colorado in a few years!”