Bruce Allen Carlson | |
---|---|
16th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office | |
In office June 12, 2009 – July 20, 2012 |
|
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Scott F. Large |
Succeeded by | Betty J. Sapp |
Personal details | |
Born |
Hibbing, Minnesota |
October 3, 1949
Awards |
Legion of Merit Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal |
Military service | |
Service/branch | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1971–2009 |
Rank | General |
Commands |
Air Force Materiel Command 8th Air Force 49th Fighter Wing |
Bruce Allen Carlson (born October 3, 1949), was the 16th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. He is a former four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the sixth Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war. After over 37 years of service, he retired from the Air Force on January 1, 2009. Carlson served as a general authority and a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 2009 to October 2015.
Carlson was born in Hibbing, Minnesota in 1949. He was commissioned in 1971 after completing the University of Minnesota Duluth's Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. He has held various assignments in flying units. Staff assignments have included positions at Tactical Air Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense, and as the Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment with the Joint Staff. Additionally, he commanded the Air Force's 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico Prior to assuming his current position, Carlson served as the Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska