DeAnna Burt

DeAnna Marie Burt (born February 15, 1969) is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who has served as the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear since 2022. She is the first female major general and second female general officer in the Space Force.

Burt entered the United States Air Force in 1992 after graduating from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a career space operations officer with numerous satellite operations and staff positions in Air Force Space Command and United States European Command. She has commanded the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, 460th Operations Group, and 50th Space Wing. She is a graduate and former instructor of the USAF Weapons School and a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. She also served as the vice commander of the United States Air Force Warfare Center.

In 2021, Burt transferred to the Space Force, where she now serves as its chief operations officer, responsible for operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations. She served as the commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command and vice commander of Space Operations Command from 2020 to 2022.

Early life and education
Burt was born on February 15, 1969, in Louisville, Kentucky. When she was six years old, her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

Burt entered Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to get a college scholarship. She initially planned to just work in the Air Force for four years. At Embry-Riddle, she was the AFROTC cadet wing commander and chairman of the Women's Programming Board. She was also involved as Head Resident Advisor and Campus Climate for Women. In 1991, she received a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering as a distinguished graduate. In 1995, she received an M.S. degree in human resources management from Troy State University in Alabama.

As part of her professional military education, Burt attended Squadron Officer School, USAF Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, National War College, and Air University. She also attended several leadership courses and seminars from the Center for Creative Leadership, UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, Alan Freed Associates, and Arlie Center.

Air Force
Burt was nominated into the Air Force on May 13, 1992, a year after graduating from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University through an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. She originally intended to serve for four years in the Air Force, the minimum service requirement to pay off the scholarship. After getting her commission, she underwent a three-month undergraduate space training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.

From 1993 to 1995, Burt was assigned with the 4th Space Warning Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, as crew commander, deputy flight commander, and chief of current operations. She was then assigned to the 76th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, from 1995 to 1997 as chief of space systems tactical warning operations and chief of standardization and training. After that, she served as an executive officer at the Space Warfare Center until 1999.

After attending Weapons School, Burt served for two years there as an instructor, assistant training flight commander, and training flight commander. From 2001 to 2004, she was assigned to Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as a theater missile defense operations officer and the deputy chief of Special Technical Operations Branch of the United States European Command.

Burt then went back to the United States, studying for two years at the Air Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. From 2006 to 2008, she was assigned at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, where she served as chief of the Combat Plans Division at the Joint Space Operations Center. During this time, he worked with then-Lieutenant Colonel B. Chance Saltzman during the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test.

In August 2008, Burt took command of the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) at Schriever, operating the Global Positioning System. She served as commander of 2 SOPS for two years, after which she was assigned to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado as chief of the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Requirements Division of the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).

From 2012 to 2014, Burt served as commander of the 460th Operations Group at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, overseeing missile warning units. After her second command tour, she was reassigned back to AFSPC as director of the commander's action group for a year. After that, she took command of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever, serving from 2015 to 2017.

Selected for promotion to brigadier general, Burt moved to the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as vice commander. In 2018, she returned to AFSPC as director of operations and communications.

Space Force
On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force was established. AFSPC was redesignated as Headquarters, United States Space Force, and temporarily served as headquarter functions for the new service. As such, Burt performed her tasks as director of operations and communications temporarily for the service until Headquarters, United States Space Force, was redesignated as Space Operations Command (SpOC) in October 2020. She continued to serve the same position for SpOC, during which time she was promoted to major general.

In November 2023, took command of the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) at Vandenberg from then-Major General John E. Shaw, who was confirmed to serve as deputy commander of the United States Space Command. Additionally, she served as vice commander of Space Operations Command. Burt transferred to the Space Force on May 7, 2021, becoming the first woman to hold this rank in the Space Force. She is also the second general officer in the Space Force, after Lieutenant General Nina Armagno. In August 2022, she relinquished command of CFSCC to Major General Douglas Schiess.

In October 2022, Burt was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear. She would replace Saltzman who was confirmed to serve as the second chief of space operations. While awaiting confirmation, she temporarily served as special assistant to the vice chief of space operations. She was confirmed on November 30, 2022. A day later, she was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed the post as the second deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear. As the chief operating officer of the Space Force, she has overall responsibility for operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear Operations service.

In June 2023, Burt criticized "anti-LGBTQ+" state laws that prevent the Space Force from assigning the most qualified candidates for assignments.

Personal life
Burt is married to a retired Air Force Colonel.

Awards and decorations
Burt is the recipient of the following awards: