John Shaw has 33+ years of experience in national security space and aerospace engineering with a focus on leading large-scale technical, global organizations. His unique proven strengths in executive decision-making, strategic risk management, and combat operations at all levels have made him a leader in organizational transformation, strategic culture transformation, and the innovative integration of allied/international and commercial capabilities into national security missions. He was among the first general officers to accept a commission in the United States Space Force, resigning his US Air Force commission to do so.
John’s last active duty assignment, as a three-star general in the U.S. Space Force, was as Deputy Commander of United States Space Command, where he directed 12,000+ personnel worldwide and oversaw a $525M budget to defend the nation’s critical space capabilities and to deliver space effects to terrestrial warfighters and human society. Before joining U.S. Space Command, John was the last commander of 14th Air Force (U.S. Air Force) and the first commander of Space Operations Command (U.S. Space Force) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, leading 10,000+ personnel across the globe that organized, trained, and equipped military space forces and executed global space operations, in teamwork with allies and international partners.
Prior to commanding 14th Air Force, John spent 30 years as a leader of large, complex, and highly technical organizations responsible for some of the world’s most critical space capabilities within both the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office. He also served as a senior policy advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as a co-chair or member of several U.S. delegations discussing space security issues with Russian and international delegations.
John holds multiple academic degrees in technical and strategic management fields, including a B.S in Astronautical Engineering with Russian Language minor from the US Air Force Academy, an M.S. in Aeronautics & Astronautics from the University of Washington and an M.S. in Organizational Management from The George Washington University. He is a noted public speaker and has delivered dozens of keynotes at various conferences and interviews with the media, including television appearances on NBC News and National Geographic’s StarTalk. He has also authored or co-authored many works on space-focused strategy, security, and policy, including his recent pioneering theory work on Dynamic Space Operations. John lives in Colorado with his partner Tonia. He is an avid runner, skier, hiker, fly fisher, reader, wine enthusiast, chessplayer, and musician.