Devin Pepper

Last updated

Devin Pepper
Maj Gen Devin R. Pepper (3).jpg
Official portrait, 2025
Born (1969-11-29) November 29, 1969 (age 55)
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
Years of service
1986–2021 (Air Force)
  • 2021–present (Space Force)
Rank Major General
Commands
Awards
Alma mater
Signature Devin R. Pepper signature.svg

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]

Contents

Education

Military career

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

Assignments

Pepper as a lieutenant colonel Lt Col Devin R. Pepper.jpg
Pepper as a lieutenant colonel
Pepper took command of the 460th Space Wing in 2019 460th Space Wing welcomes new commander (3).jpg
Pepper took command of the 460th Space Wing in 2019
Pepper with Secretary Barrett during her visit to Buckley Air Force Base, 2020 Space Delta 4 welcomes Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett (1).jpg
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

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

USAF Command Space Badge.png Command Space Operations Badge
United States Air Force Command and Control Badge.svg
Senior Command and Control Badge
Afg 021203 114.jpg
Master Missile Operations Badge
United States Space Command emblem 2019.svg
United States Space Command Badge
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Commendation Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg
Combat Readiness Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
U.S. Air Force Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg
Good Conduct Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Transparent square.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg
Nuclear Deterrence Operations 'N' Device.png
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
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
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze service star
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.svg Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze service star
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg
Air Force Training Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster

Dates of promotion

Lt Gen Shaw swears in Pepper during his promotion ceremony to brigadier general, August 16, 2021 Brig Gen Devin R. Pepper promotion ceremony (3).jpg
Lt Gen Shaw swears in Pepper during his promotion ceremony to brigadier general, August 16, 2021
RankBranchDate [1]
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant Air ForceAugust 9, 1996
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant August 9, 1998
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain August 9, 2000
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major August 1, 2006
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2010
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel April 1, 2017
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel Space Force~September 30, 2020
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General September 2, 2022
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General June 20, 2024

Writing

References

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