Devin Pepper Explained

Devin Pepper
Birth Date:29 November 1969
Allegiance:United States
Branch:
Branch Label:Branch
Serviceyears:
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
Rank:Brigadier General
Commands:
Awards:
Alma Mater:
    Signature:Devin R. Pepper signature.svg

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

    Education

    Military career

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

    Assignments

    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

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

    Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    Defense Meritorious Service Medal
    Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
    Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
    Navy Commendation Medal
    Joint Service Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
    Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three bronze oak leaf cluster
    Combat Readiness Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    Good Conduct Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
    National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
    Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
    Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
    Korea Defense Service Medal
    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
    Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze service star
    Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
    Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze service star
    Air Force Training Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster

    Dates of promotion

    ! Rank !! Branch !! Date
    Air Force August 9, 1996
    August 9, 1998
    August 9, 2000
    August 1, 2006
    December 1, 2010
    April 1, 2017
    Space Force ~September 30, 2020
    September 2, 2022

    Writing

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Brigadier General Devin R. Pepper. October 2023. United States Space Force. 2024-02-25.
    2. Web site: Buckley AFB generates almost $1.3 billion for Aurora in 2019, colonel says. Quincy. Snowdon. Staff. Writer. January 23, 2020.
    3. Web site: Fallen veterans honored by hundreds at wreath-laying event. www.afspc.af.mil.
    4. Web site: The deputy director of #USSPACECOM's Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate received his first star yesterday at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Brig. Gen. Devin Pepper is the first prior-enlisted and first African American general officer in the United States Space Force. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1989 and commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1996. Before coming to Peterson Space Force Base, Pepper was Buckley Space Force Base's garrison commander.. Facebook. August 17, 2021.
    5. Web site: PN44 - 4 nominees for Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022). March 25, 2021. www.congress.gov.
    6. Web site: PN1998 — Brig. Gen. Devin R. Pepper — Space Force. 2024-07-23. U.S. Congress.