Seal
Biography
Flag
U N I T E D   S T A T E S   A I R   F O R C E

MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS D. TAVERNEY

photo of MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS D. TAVERNEY
Retired Oct. 1, 2006.  

Major General Thomas D. Taverney is the Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. 

The general entered the Air Force in 1968 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. General Taverney has been involved in Space operations and Space Systems development for 38 years. In the arena of Space Systems development the general has performed satellite design and development at the systems level and has also designed and developed software for satellite spaceborne and ground systems. In addition, the general has been involved in the acquisition and Program Management of Military and Civil Space systems since 1968. In Space systems operations General Taverney performed numerous functions in on-orbit satellite command and control for taskable satellites. In the launch operations area the general has had experience in building ascent launch trajectories, performing launch day winds analysis, and launch console operations. During Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle, General Taverney was recalled to active duty to support "Assured Access to Space," providing space launch and range operations support to our warfighters. In March 2006, General Taverney was again called to active duty as the Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command. Additionally, General Taverney is a certified Director of Space Forces (DS4), and has spent time in the area of responsibility, supporting the AFSPC commander in the development of Space warfighting doctrine and operational concepts.

During his career, among many other accomplishments, General Taverney designed the Airborne Anti-SATellite system, led the guidance launch failure analysis team on Titan that got the fleet flying again in six days, developed a set of guidance equations for the miniature homing vehicle subsequently proven in flight test, designed and developed software for classified satellite programs that allowed the system to perform functions never envisioned, built a simulator that validated the processing time and performance for the National Launch System, led the ARGOS Independent Review team, conducted independent software assessments for Space Based Infrared System and Global Positioning System, and led the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Independent Readiness Review Team.

The general is employed as a senior corporate vice president for Science Application International Corporation. In his civilian capacity General Taverney has extensive engineering design and development expertise along with significant program and organizational management experience including direct program management of numerous space systems developments, profit/loss and balance sheet responsibility, strategic planning, budgeting and budget monitoring, and contract negotiation and performance. General Taverney has held the positions of chief engineer, vice president of engineering, group vice president, president and chief operating officer. In addition to being on advisory boards at Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton, the general was the first national chairman of the National Security Industrial Association Space Committee. 

EDUCATION
1968 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy
1974 Master of Science degree, University of Southern California
1975 Squadron Officers School, in residence
1995 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1968 - September 1972, project officer, Office of Development Plans, Space and Missiles Systems Organization, Los Angeles Air Force , Calif.
2. September 1972 - August 1976, satellite command engineer, satellite command shift supervisor, software field test force director, and field test force director, Project Manager of the Back-up Satellite Test Center, Air Force Satellite Control Facility, Sunnyvale Air Force Station, Calif.
3. August 1976 - January 1979, operations director, and launch guidance director; Secretary of the Air Force for Special Projects
4. January 1979 - May 1981, manager of Teal Ruby Command and Control Segment, Space Test Program, Headquarters, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
5. May 1981 - June 1984, manager of Portable Mobile Command and Control, Satellite Range, Launch and Control SPO, Headquarters, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
6. June 1984 - December 1986, branch manager of Strategic Planning, Chief Space Systems architect; Development Plans, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
7. December 1986 - December 1988, manager of strategic planning for future launch systems, manager of air launch concepts; Launch Programs, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
8. December 1988 - October 1992, director of ground processing and ascent guidance and control; manager of logistics support; manager of development planning; Advanced Launch System, National Launch System, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
9. October 1992 - January 1993, director of engineering; Defense Support Program, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
10. January 1993 - August 1996, director of Ground Control Segment; Space Based Infrared System, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
11. August 1996 - April 1998, mobilization assistant to the commander, Space Test and Evaluation Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. April 1998 - November 2001, mobilization assistant to the commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
13. November 2001 - March 2006, mobilization assistant to the commander of Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. March 2006 - present, Vice Commander , Headquarters Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Peterson AFB, Colo.

MILITARY RATINGS INFORMATION
Military Parachutist
Master Missileman
Master Space Badge

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two devices
Air Force Commendation Medal with three devices
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with device
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two devices
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Air Force Scientific Achievement Award, 1969
Chairman NSIA (National Security Industrial Association) committee on Space, 1986
Who's Who in Aviation, 1972

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 5, 1968
First Lieutenant Dec. 5, 1969
Captain June 5, 1971
Major June 5, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel June 5, 1989
Colonel April 1, 1996
Brigadier General Sept. 1, 2000
Major General March 31, 2003


(Current as of October 2006)