Colonel LEROY BROWN, JR. Colonel Leroy Brown, Jr., is the Program Executive Officer for Space Sensing, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. In this role, Col. Brown leads a $24 billion portfolio of persistent space sensing capabilities including missile warning and tracking, and space-based sensing which spans the entire program lifecycle including prototyping, development, production, fielding, operational sustainment, and commercial acquisitions. Space Sensing is spearheading the U.S. Space Force’s pivot to a more diverse and resilient space architecture to prevail against threats. Col. Brown was born in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate from the University of New Mexico. Prior to becoming a PEO, Col. Brown served as the Senior Materiel Leader Strategic Missile Warning Acquisition Delta, where he was responsible for a $12B portfolio to design, develop, and field the nation’s premier Next Generation space and interim ground missile warming weapon systems. His acquisition experience spans capabilities and systems across human factors engineering, chemical and biological operational test and evaluation, mobility and tanker aircraft, missile warning, and global space power mission areas. Col. Brown has led at the Detachment, Squadron, Group, Delta, Directorate, Center, and Air Staff levels. EDUCATION 2000 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M. 2000 Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M. 2003 Master of Arts, Management, Webster University, Saint Louis, Mo. 2003 Master of Arts, Human Resources Development, Webster University, Saint Louis, Mo. 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence 2012 Manfred Wörner Fellow, German Marshall Fund, Washington, D.C. 2013 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 2016 Certificate in Legislative Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 2016 Program Manager’s Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va. 2018 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence 2022 Master of Science, National Security and Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. 2022 Senior Acquisition Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. 2025 Executive Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. ASSIGNMENTS January 2001 – January 2003, Behavioral Scientist, later Project Manager, Detachment 5, Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. January 2003 – November 2004, Squadron Section Commander, Detachment 5, Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City Base, Texas. November 2004 – June 2007, Test Director, Detachment 1, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. June 2007 – June 2008, Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. June 2008 – November 2010, Deputy Commander, later Flight Commander, Sensors Flight, Defense Meteorological Satellite Squadron, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. November 2010 – April 2011, Director of Operations, Defense Meteorological Space Systems Division, Defense Weather Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. April 2011 – June 2012, Deputy Chief, Space Based Infrared System Block Development Branch, Infrared Space Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. June 2012 – June 2013, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. July 2013 – September 2014, Program Analyst, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. September 2014 – July 2016, Congressional Appropriations Liaison, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management), the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. July 2016 – June 2018, Materiel Leader, Space Based Infrared System Satellite Production, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. June 2018 – March 2019, Materiel Leader, Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Space, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. March 2019 – July 2019, Deputy Chief, Overhead Persistent Infrared Satellite Systems Division, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. July 2019 – July 2020, Executive Officer to the Commander, Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. August 2020 – July 2021, Deputy Director, Advanced Payload Division, Space Systems Program Office, Signals Intelligence Systems Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. July 2021 – June 2022, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. June 2022 – February 2023, Chief, Global Space Power Division, Capability Delivery Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. February 2023 – June 2023, dual-hatted as Deputy Director and Chief, Global Space Power Division, Capability Delivery Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. July 2023 – July 2025, Senior Materiel Leader, Strategic Missile Warning Acquisition Delta, Space Sensing Directorate, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. July 2025 – Present, Program Executive Officer for Space Sensing, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2004 Air Force Research Laboratory Annual Human Effectiveness Directorate Director’s Award PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS Program Management, Level III, Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) Test and Evaluation, Level III, APDP Systems, Program, Research and Development, Engineering, Level II, APDP Space Professional Level II, Space Professional Development Program EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant Jan. 5, 2001 First Lieutenant Jan. 5, 2003 Captain Jan. 5, 2005 Major Oct. 1, 2010 Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2016 Colonel May 1, 2022 (Current as of July 2025)