Devin Pepper

Devin Pepper
Official portrait, 2024
Born (1969-11-29) November 29, 1969 (age 54)
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
Years of service
1986–2021 (Air Force)
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
RankMajor General
Commands
Awards
Alma mater
Signature

Devin Ruben Pepper (born November 29, 1969) is a United States Space Force major general who served as commander of Buckley Garrison, 460th Space Wing, and the 21st Operations Group.[1][2][3] He is the first prior enlisted African American general officer in the Space Force.[4][5]

Education

[edit]
  • 1995 Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Maryland University College, College Park
  • 2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 2002 Air Force Strategic Policy Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  • 2002 Masters of Arts, Organizational Behavior and Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
  • 2003 Masters of Business Administration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
  • 2003 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Space Superiority Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • 2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2010 Space 300, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • 2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2015 Masters of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • 2018 Middle East and South Asia Course, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capitol Hill Club, Washington, D.C.
  • 2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Air Force General Officer Management Office, Washington, D.C.[1]

Military career

[edit]

In July 2024, Pepper was nominated for promotion to major general.[6]

Assignments

[edit]
Pepper as a lieutenant colonel
Pepper took command of the 460th Space Wing in 2019
Pepper with Secretary Barrett during her visit to Buckley Air Force Base, 2020

1. May 1996–August 1996, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. August 1996–April 1997, Student, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training and Initial Qualification Training, Minuteman III Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
3. April 1997–February 1998, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, 740th Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
4. February 1998–January 1999, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander Evaluator, 91st Operations Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
5. February 1999–November 1999, Missile Combat Crew Commander, 740th Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
6. November 1999–July 2001, Missile Combat Crew Commander Instructor, Section Chief and Senior Crew Operations Instructor, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
7. August 2001–June 2002, Executive Officer to the Wing Commander, 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
8. June 2002–June 2003, Air Force Strategic Policy Intern with duties in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Equal Opportunity; and Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. January 2004–February 2005, Chief, Offensive Counter-Information, 7th Information Warfare Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea
10. February 2005–September 2007, Program Manager, Advanced Strike Requirements Branch, Advanced Programs Division, Directorate of Requirements, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va. (March – July 2007, Space Weapons Officer, G-3 Fires and Effects Coordination Cell, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), Camp Fallujah, Iraq)
11. September 2007–August 2009, Executive Officer to the Commander, Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.
12. September 2009–June 2011, Deputy Chief, later Chief, Weapons, Tactics and Electronic Warfare Branch, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
13. June 2011–June 2013, Commander, Air Force Element Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, United Kingdom
14. June 2013–July 2014, Deputy Commander, 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. August 2014–June 2015, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2015–June 2016, Chief, Global Intelligence Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Future Capabilities Branch (J841), U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
17. June 2016–May 2017, Chief, Space and Missile Defense Division (J31), Headquarters United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
18. May 2017–May 2019, Commander, 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo.
19. May 2019–July 2020, Commander, 460th Space Wing, Buckley AFB, Colo.
20. July 2020–January 2021, Commander, Buckley Garrison, Buckley AFB, Colo.
21. January 2021–April 2021, performing the duties of the Deputy Director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (DJ5), Headquarters United States Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
22. April 2021–October 2022, Deputy Director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (DJ5), Headquarters United States Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
23. October 2022–June 2024, Deputy Commanding General Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo. (December 2022–June 2024) Vice Commander, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
23. June 2024–present, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia[1]

Awards and decorations

[edit]

Pepper is the recipient of the following awards:[1]

Command Space Operations Badge
Senior Command and Control Badge
Master Missile Operations Badge
United States Space Command Badge
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Navy Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Good Conduct Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze service star
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Bronze star
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze service star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Training Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster
  • Colonel Dick Scobee Leadership Award (OTS)
  • Distinguished Graduate (Minuteman III IQT)
  • Air Force Space Command Instructor and Evaluator of the Year Award
  • Air Force Space Command Crewmember Excellence Award
  • United States Air Force Verne Orr Award

Dates of promotion

[edit]
Lt Gen Shaw swears in Pepper during his promotion ceremony to brigadier general, August 16, 2021
Rank Branch Date[1]
Second Lieutenant Air Force August 9, 1996
First Lieutenant August 9, 1998
Captain August 9, 2000
Major August 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2010
Colonel April 1, 2017
Colonel Space Force ~September 30, 2020
Brigadier General September 2, 2022
Major General June 20, 2024

Writing

[edit]
  • "A Dangerous Frontier: U.S. Space Command Adapts to Increasingly Complex Battleground". Indo-Pacific Defense Forum. March 22, 2022.

References

[edit]
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 21st Operations Group
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Commander of the 460th Space Wing
2019–2020
Command inactivated
New office Commander of Buckley Garrison
2020–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the United States Space Command
2021–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commanding General (Operations) of Space Operations Command
2022–2024
Succeeded by
Vice Commander of Space Operations Command
2023–2024
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of Allied Command Transformation
2024–present
Incumbent