biography

BIOGRAPHY
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
COLONEL CORDELL A. DELAPENA, JR.
Colonel Cordell DeLaPena is the Senior Materiel Leader for the ACAT
1D Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T)
Program, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. He leads more than
97 people in the design, development, production and delivery of $4.7B
worth of multi-mission capable airborne and ground based terminals
providing satellite communications to enhance non-traditional ISR, antiaccess/denied airspace interoperability, and nuclear survivability
capabilities for both strategic and tactical forces.
Colonel DeLaPena received his commission through Officer Training
School and entered active duty in July 1985. His initial assignments
included aircraft modification and test management responsibilities for the
4950th Test Wing, the Aeronautical Equipment Systems Program Office,
and Armstrong Laboratories. He then held program manager positions
associated with the Airborne Warning and Control System Program
Office and the National Reconnaissance Office. The colonel worked at a
space operations site where he was responsible for the integration and readiness of a new imaging capability. He
has held staff positions with the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Command & Control and Combat
Support, and the Under Secretary of the Air Force. He led the development of integrated ISR Architectures for the
National Security Space Architect’s Office. He then served on the staff for the Under Secretary of Defense for
Intelligence as the director for airborne ISR. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel was the 653d Materiel
Group Commander and Senior Materiel Leader for the Airborne Network Division at Hanscom AFB.
Colonel DeLaPena is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College’s Executive Program Manager
Course. He is a designated member of the Defense Acquisition Workforce and is certified Level III in Program
Management and Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Gettysburg College, PA
1984 Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, WV
1989 Master of Science in Management Science, University of Dayton, OH
1990 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1992 Rapporteur, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, MA
1998 Air Command and Staff College (seminar), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1999 Advanced Program Managers Course, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA
2006 Air War College (residence), Academic Distinction, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2010 Executive Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
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July 1985 – December 1986, Aircraft Modification Operations Manager, Projects Division, 4950th Test
Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
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December 1986 – October 1988, Aircraft Modification Manager, Special Projects Division, 4950th Test
Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
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October 1988 – Jan 1990, Program Manager, Aeronautical Equipment Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base, OH
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Jan 1990 – February 1990, Student, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
February 1990 – July 1991, Program Manager, Aircrew Protection, Armstrong Laboratories, WrightPatterson Air Force Base, OH
July 1991 – June 1994, Program Manager, AWACS Radar System Improvement Program, Hanscom Air
Force Base, MA
June 1994 – June 1995, Executive Officer, AWACS Program Office, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
June 1995 – August 1996, Program Manager, AWACS Offensive Counter-Air Programs, Hanscom Air Force
Base, MA
August 1996 – June 1997, Chief, System Test Division, Office of Science and Technology, Assistant
SECAF/Space, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C.
June 1997 – May 1999, Chief, Transition Operations Division, Space Operations Site, Assistant
SECAF/Space, Washington, D.C.
May 1999 – July 1999, Student, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA
July 1999 – July 2000, Director, Transition Operations Division, Space Operations Site, Assistant
SECAF/Space, Washington, D.C.
July 2000 – May 2001, Staff Director, Air Force Program Executive Office for Command & Control and
Combat Support, Washington, D.C.
May 2001 – March 2002, Executive Officer, Air Force Program Executive Office for Command & Control
and Combat Support, Washington, D.C.
March 2002 – July 2005, Chief, ISR Architecture Team, National Security Space Office, Fairfax, VA
July 2005 – May 2006, Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL; Academic Distinction
May 2006 – July 2008, Director, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Systems, Office of
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Washington, D.C.
July 2008 – June 2010, Commander, 653d Electronic Systems Group, 653d Electronic Systems Wing,
Hanscom AFB, MA
July 2010 – March 2011, Senior Materiel Leader, Airborne Network Division, Air Force Program Executive
Office for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, Hanscom AFB, MA.
March 2011 – Present, Senior Materiel Leader, Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals, Air
Force Program Executive Office for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, Hanscom AFB, MA.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 olc), AF Meritorious
Service Medal (1 olc), AF Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement
Medal, AF Achievement Medal (1 olc)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1991 Company Grade Officer of the Year, Human Systems Program Office
1999 National Reconnaissance Office Bronze Medal
1999 Director’s Circle Award Winner, Assistant SECAF/Space
2004 Department of Defense Modeling & Simulation Team Award
2005 National Security Space Office Team of the Year Award
2009 John J. Welch, Jr. Award for Acquisition Leadership; best AF Program
2009 Acquisition Leadership Award; best AF System Program Director
2009 Order of Daedalians Weapons Systems Award; most outstanding DoD Development Program
2010 Air Force Materiel Command outstanding Analytical Team of the Year
2010 Electronic Systems Center System Program Office of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 3, 1985
First Lieutenant July 3, 1987
Captain July 3, 1989
Major May 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2001
Colonel May 1, 2007
(Current as of March, 2011)
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