Maj. Gen. Christopher S. Povak is the Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Virginia. In this role, he assists the Director in managing the strategic and tactical priorities of the NRO including the design, acquisition, launch and operations of the nation’s satellite reconnaissance capabilities. As the Commander, Space Force Element, General Povak leads the military personnel assigned to NRO, manages the associated service resources, and serves as senior advisor to the Director on all military matters.
General Povak received his commission from Clarkson University in 1992. Throughout his career, he gained extensive hands-on satellite operations, engineering and acquisitions experience working with Air Force Space Command and in several positions with the NRO. General Povak has commanded space operations units at the squadron, group, and wing levels. He has also served on the Headquarters Air Force Staff gaining broad insight into defense policy and the Department of Defense’s requirements, programming and budgeting processes. General Povak was also selected for a congressional fellowship and served as a military legislative advisor to United States Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut.
Prior to his current assignment, General Povak was the Deputy Director, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Washington D.C.
1992
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y.
1997
Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
1998
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Colorado Technical University, Colo.
1999
Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005
Master of Art in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005
Air Command and Staff College, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007
Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011
Senior Executive Fellowship, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2012
National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
2012
Masters of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
1
March 1993 - July 1996
Air Force Satellite Control Network Capacity Engineer, 50th Space Wing Plans, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
2
August 1996 - August 1997
Flight Commander, Operating Division 4/DC, Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif.
3
September 1997 - May 2000
Chief, Space Systems Engineering, Operating Division 4/DC, Onizuka AFS, Calif.
4
June 2000 - May 2002
Director of Operations, Air Force Operations Element, Washington D.C.
5
June 2002 - August 2003
Director of Engineering, Air Force Operations Element, Washington D.C.
6
September 2003 - July 2004
Congressional Fellow, Office of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Washington D.C.
7
August 2004 - June 2005
Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8
June 2005 - July 2006
Space Programs Planning, Programming, and Budgeting, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Va.
9
August 2006 - July 2007
Chief, Congressional and Media Affairs Branch, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Va.
10
August 2007 - June 2008
Program Element Monitor, Transformational Satellite Communications, Directorate of Space Acquisition, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Va.
11
July 2008 - June 2010
Commander, Operations Division 7 and Deputy Chief Overhead Collection Management Center, Fort George Meade, Md.
12
July 2010 - July 2011
Executive Officer to the Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
13
August 2011 - June 2012
Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D. C.
14
July 2012 - July 2015
Commander, Air Force Element, RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom
15
August 2015 - May 2016
Deputy Director, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
16
June 2016 - August 2019
Commander, Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, Buckley AFB, Colo.
17
June 2016 - August 2019
December 2018 - June 2019
Commander, Air Force Element Space Operations Wing, Buckley AFB, Colo.
Acting Commander, Air Force Element, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
18
September 2019 - July 2021
Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Space Defense, Schriever AFB, CO
19
July 2021 - September 2022
Deputy Director, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Washington D.C.
20
September 2022 - Present
Present, Deputy Director and Space Force Element Commander, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.