Philip Garrant

Last updated

Philip Garrant
Lt Gen Philip A. Garrant (2).jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Bornc. 1969 (age 54–55)
Hanover, Maryland, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
United States Air Force
Years of service
1991–2021 (Air Force)
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held
Space Systems Command
Battles/wars
Awards
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Alma mater
Johns Hopkins University (BS)
Spouse(s)Heather Garrant

Philip Alan Garrant (born c. 1969) is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who serves as the second commander of Space Systems Command. He previously served as the deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, and requirements.

Contents

Garrant received his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the Johns Hopkins University in 1991. He is a career acquisitions officer who has led the 689th Armament Systems Squadron, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Systems Division, and Space Superiority Systems Directorate. He was deployed in support of the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan.

In 2021, Garrant transferred to the Space Force. He was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as the second chief strategy and resourcing officer. In 2024, he took command of Space Systems Command.

Early life and education

Philip Alan Garrant [1] is the son of Richard and Martha Garrant of Hanover, Maryland. [2] His father is a United States Army officer and his mother is a school teacher. He has a brother who is a reservist in the United States Navy while working for the United States Department of Defense. [3] He finished high school in 1987 at Meade Senior High School. [2]

Garrant received a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1991 from the Johns Hopkins University. He later earned M.S. degrees in systems management and systems engineering from Capitol College and Air Force Institute of Technology, respectively. He also attended the Air War College, Army War College, University of North Carolina, and Center for Creative Leadership. [4]

Military career

Air Force

Garrant served the ceremonial first pitch during a Los Angeles Angels baseball game, 2017 AF 70th Birthday at Angel game (3793475).jpeg
Garrant served the ceremonial first pitch during a Los Angeles Angels baseball game, 2017

Garrant commissioned into the United States Air Force on May 23, 1991, through an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Maryland. [3] His first assignment was as systems engineer and program manager at the National Security Agency's Document and Data Networks Division for three years in Fort Meade, Maryland. From 1995 to 1995, he served as a systems engineer then program manager at a classified location. [4]

In 1999, Garrant deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as an air combat training manager at United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). He served two years in that position until he was assigned as executive officer to the director of air and space operations of USAFE. After that, he served as program manager of the F-16 Structures Branch at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for a year. [4]

Garrant welcomes Jeff Bezos to the Space and Missile Systems Center, 2017 SMC Welcomes Amazon and Blue Origin CEO, Jeff Bezos, to LAAFB (1).jpg
Garrant welcomes Jeff Bezos to the Space and Missile Systems Center, 2017

After studying at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Garrant served as chief of the Advanced Sensors Branch at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition at Rosslyn, Virginia, from 2004 to 2006. After that, he transferred as the chief of the Predator, Reaper, and Big Safari Programs Branch for a year. [4]

In June 2007, Garrant took command of the 689th Armament Systems Squadron of the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He was in command of the squadron for two years until he deployed to Camp Victory, Iraq, as a C-8 acquisition liaison officer for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq from July 2008 to January 2009. After that, he went back to Eglin as deputy director of the 808th Armament Systems Group until 2010. [4]

From 2011 to 2014, Garrant served as senior materiel leader of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Systems Division of the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. After that he deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, from October 2013 to April 2014 as deputy director for regional teams for operational contract support and chief of audit readiness in support of the Afghanistan war. [4]

After his deployment, Garrant went back to SMC, serving as the director of the Space Superiority Systems Directorate from 2014 to 2017. After that, he served as the deputy commander of SMC and the deputy Air Force program executive officer for space. During this time, he was also promoted to brigadier general. In 2019, he was assigned to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, as the program executive for ground-based weapon systems. [4] He promoted to major general in 2020. [5] [3]

Space Force

In April 2021, while assigned at the MDA, Garrant was nominated for transfer into the United States Space Force. He was among the first cadre of Air Force general officers who were nominated to transfer into the Space Force. He transferred to the new service in June 2021. [6]

In June 2022, Garrant was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and appointment as the deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, and requirements. [7] [8] [9] On August 2, 2022, he was promoted to lieutenant general and replaced Lieutenant General William Liquori as the Space Force's second chief strategy and resourcing officer. As the service's chief strategy and resourcing officer, he has overall responsibility for the strategies, requirements, and budget of the Space Force. [4] He led the Space Force's first space engagement talks (SET) with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 2023. [10]

In July 2023, Garrant was nominated for appointment as commander of the Space Systems Command (SSC), the successor organization of SMC. He would replace Lieutenant General Michael Guetlein who was selected to serve as vice chief of space operations. [11] [12] His nomination were among the hundreds of military promotions held by Senator Tommy Tuberville in opposition of the Department of Defense's abortion policy. He was confirmed in December 2023. [13] On February 1, 2024, he became the second commander of Space Systems Command. [14]

Personal life

His wife, Heather, is a local school nurse. He has four children, three sons and a daughter, two of whom work for the Air Force as civilians. [3] [15]

Awards and decorations

Garrant is the recipient of the following awards: [4]

Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge.jpg
Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
United States Air Force Operations Support Badge.svg
Air Force Operations Support Badge
Space Staff Identification Badge.png
Space Staff Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Achievement Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal ribbon.svg Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
AF OS Short Tour Ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
AF OS Tour Ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)

Dates of promotion

Garrant during a promotion ceremony to brigadier general in 2017 SMC Celebrates Newest Flag Officer (3688079).jpeg
Garrant during a promotion ceremony to brigadier general in 2017
RankBranchDate [4]
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant Air ForceMay 23, 1991
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant October 19, 1993
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain October 19, 1995
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major August 1, 2002
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2006
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel September 1, 2011
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General August 2, 2017
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General May 22, 2020
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General Space Force~April 29, 2021
US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant General August 2, 2022

Writings

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References

  1. ↑ Garrant, Philip Allan (March 18, 2011). What are the Lessons from using Airpower in Counterinsurgencies? (PDF) (Thesis). United States Army War College.
  2. 1 2 "Garant commissioned". The Baltimore Sun . Baltimore, Maryland. July 7, 1991. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Queena (August 26, 2020). "MDA's Garrant receives his second star". The Redstone Rocket.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant". United States Space Force. August 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. ↑ Everstine, Brian W. (May 11, 2020). "New Commanders Nominated for AFCENT, Air National Guard". Air Force Magazine .
  6. ↑ "PN351 — Space Force". United States Congress . April 13, 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. ↑ Hadley, Greg (June 28, 2022). "Space Force Poised to Get a New Plans and Programs Chief". Air Force Magazine .
  8. ↑ "Senior leader announcement: Week of June 27". United States Air Force . June 27, 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  9. ↑ "PN2280 — Maj. Gen. Philip A. Garrant — Space Force". United States Congress . June 22, 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  10. ↑ Hadley, Greg (July 21, 2023). "Space Force Holds First-Ever Forum with Japan to Build Next Steps for Cooperation". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  11. ↑ "PN828 — Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant — Space Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (July 12, 2023). "Biden nominates Space Force's Whiting to head SPACECOM". Breaking Defense. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  13. ↑ Hadley, Greg (December 6, 2023). "With Hold Lifted, What Happens Next for New Air Force, Space Force Generals?". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  14. ↑ "Space Systems Command formally welcomes new commander". Space Systems Command. February 1, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Why RNs are on Strike — In Their Own Words". National Nurses United. September 21, 2017.
Military offices
Preceded by Director of the Space Superiority Systems Directorate
2014–2017		Succeeded by
Vice Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center
2017–2019		Succeeded by
Preceded by Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems of the Missile Defense Agency
2019–2022		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements
2022–2023		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Space Systems Command
2024–present		Incumbent
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