Lieutenant Colonel Brian A. Shimek is currently the Materiel Leader and Director, Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) at Kirtland AFB, NM. He leads a 63-member team responsible for maximizing space flight opportunities for DoD research & development missions.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Lt Col Shimek first reported to Vandenberg AFB and became an instructor and evaluator of launch and range operations. He later joined space acquisitions the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, and Space Superiority Directorate of the Space and Missile Systems Center to running numerous development projects for autonomous satellite systems, space situational awareness, command and control, and cyber technologies.

At the Headquarters of Air Force Space Command, he drove the development of long-range planning and resourcing for sensitive space programs. He also served as the Chief of Staff for the Joint Special Operations Air Component – Africa, Special Operations Command Africa, while deployed. In 2019, he was the Commander, Space Launch Delta 45, Detachment 1, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, assuring mission support readiness and providing DoD, NASA, and commercial launch users critical resources to conduct national space activities.

Prior to his current assignment, he was the Operational Transition Branch Chief of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, leading the coordination of the launch, testing, training and other mission support functions that are associated with delivering a $5 billion portfolio of space warfighting capabilities to operations.