Founding Space Force and Other Stories
Brigadier General Kristin E. Goodwin wrapped up 32 years in the Air Force serving as Deputy Commanding General for Support (DCG-S), Headquarters Space Operations Command (HQ SpOC), Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. DCG-S is responsible for developing policy, guidance, training, and programming for human capital, mission sustainment, resource management, and special programs, supporting 38,000 space and cyberspace professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.
General Goodwin is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, class of 1993; additional fun fact, she was a parachute instructor and jumpmaster on the Wings of Blue at the Academy and currently has over 500 jumps. She has a diverse operational and training background that includes assignments in the B-52, B-2, EC-130, C-130, T-38, T-1, T-37, and T-53 with over 2,900 flight hours. Additionally, she was part of the planning team for night one of the “shock and awe” air strike campaign during Operation Iraqi Freedom and led the planning of air operations for night one of Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya.
General Goodwin has commanded at the Squadron, Wing, and Headquarters Staff level. Her staff assignments included being a National Defense Fellow, where she served as a Pacific region political advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in the Bangkok Embassy, Thailand. The senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and her final position at HQ SpOC.
Prior to this assignment, General Goodwin was the Chief of Staff, Joint Force Space Component Command, building the foundation for the Nation’s newest Combatant Command, United States Space Command; the Director of Transformation for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command (NORAD/NORTHCOM) and Chief of Staff and Space Operations Command lead for the reengineering and design of the Initial Operating Capability effort for the United States Space Force’s first operating Field Command.
Her personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with three oak leaf clusters, Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ Device and three oak leaf clusters and the NATO Medal
After retirement, she was hired by a small business as Chief Operations Officer to assist in their transformation towards more effective/efficient production policies. After three months, she established a new vision and their production and revenue increased 67%. She currently serves on the board for Home Front Military Network, supporting veterans throughout Colorado and is proud member of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Soon, she will be teaming up with her partner to launch her own business, Delta-v (Change in Velocity) supporting the community in leadership/team building and financial coaching.