| Bruce Allen Carlson | |
| Birth Date: | 3 October 1949 |
| Birth Place: | Hibbing, Minnesota |
| Order: | 17th |
| Director of the National Reconnaissance Office | |
| Term Start: | June 12, 2009 |
| Term End: | July 20, 2012 |
| Predecessor: | Scott F. Large |
| Successor: | Betty J. Sapp |
| President: | Barack Obama |
| Branch: | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears: | 1971–2009 |
| Rank: | General |
| Commands: | Air Force Materiel Command 8th Air Force 49th Fighter Wing |
| Awards: | Legion of Merit Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal |
Bruce Allen Carlson (born October 3, 1949), was the 17th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He is a former four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the sixth Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war. After over 37 years of service, he retired from the Air Force on January 1, 2009. Carlson served as a general authority and a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 2009 to October 2015.
Carlson was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1949.[1] He was commissioned in 1971 after completing the University of Minnesota Duluth's Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. He has held various assignments in flying units. Staff assignments have included positions at Tactical Air Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense, and as the director of force structure, resources and assessment with the Joint Staff. Additionally, he commanded the Air Force's 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico Prior to assuming his current position, Carlson served as the Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Carlson is experienced in multiple aircraft weapons systems, is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, and has combat experience in the OV-10.
In April 2009, Carlson was called as a general authority and a member of the LDS Church's Second Quorum of the Seventy.
In June 2009, he was appointed by President Barack Obama as director of the NRO, an agency that operates the nation's reconnaissance satellites.
On April 18, 2012, Carlson announced his resignation as director of the NRO, effective July 20, 2012.[2] As of 2020, Carlson is on the boards of Lockheed Martin and Benchmark Electronics.[3]
Prior to his call as a general authority in April 2009, Carlson served in the church as an elders quorum president, young men president, bishop, high councilor, and an adviser to the church's Military Advisory Committee.[4]
Carlson served as one of two area supervisors of the church's Middle East/Africa North Area from 2012 to 2015.[5] [6] [7] Carlson also served as an Assistant Executive Director of the church's Temple Department.[8] During the church's October 2015 general conference, Carlson was released from the seventy and designated an emeritus general authority.
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster | ||
| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster | ||
| Legion of Merit | ||
| Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Achievement Medal | ||
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award) | ||
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars | ||
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | ||
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | ||
| Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon | ||
| Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters | ||
| Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star | ||
| Air Force Training Ribbon | ||
| James V. Hartinger Award |