Gary Payton, who has overseen the Air Force’s space portfolio since 2005 is retiring, effective July 31, service officials announced Thursday. No word yet on who will succeed him as deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space programs. A pilot and 1971 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Payton also flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985 as a payload specialist. He retired from active duty with the rank of colonel after more than 23 years of service. He has also served stints with NASA and the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization/Missile Defense Agency, and worked in the aerospace industry.
The nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency touted the value of the organizations’ dual-hat command structure and urged caution toward creating a dedicated cyber military service in written testimony to Congress released Jan. 15.
