Nina Armagno

Nina M. Armagno
Official portrait, 2020
Birth name	Nina Marian Armagno
Place of birth	Dundee, Illinois
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force (1988-2020) United States Space Force (2020-present)
Years of service	1988–present (36 years)
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	45th Space Wing 30th Space Wing 21st Operations Group 6th Space Warning Squadron
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3)

Nina Marian Armagno is a United States Space Force lieutenant general serving as the director of staff of the Office of the Chief of Space Operations of the Space Force. She is the service's first female general officer, the first female Air Force general officer to transfer to the Space Force, and the only officer to have commanded both the 30th Space Wing and the 45th Space Wing. Prior to transferring to the Space Force, she was a major general in the United States Air Force, last serving as the director for space programs for Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition.

Education

Armagno received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988, from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She graduated Squadron Officer School in 1992, at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. She received a Master of Arts degree in 1999, in Education Administration and Management, from Chapman University in California. She graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 2000, by correspondence. In 2002, she participated in an Air Force Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C. In 2003, she received a certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the Air War College in 2003, by correspondence. In 2007, she received a Master of Science degree, in National Security Studies, from the National War College in Washington, D.C. In 2010, she attended the United States Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar at the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, in Virginia. Also in 2010, she attended the Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Military service

Armagno entered the Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in June 1988. Her experience in space systems operations includes combat mission ready operator, instructor, evaluator and flight commander in strategic missile warning, space surveillance, space control, space launch and theater missile warning mission areas. She was the operations officer at the 1st Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Prior to her current assignment, Armagno served as second Commander, 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, responsible for space lift and range operations, and support of operational and developmental missile system testing for the Department of Defense from the West Coast of the United States. She has served as the installation commander of the 6th Space Warning Squadron at Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts, the commander and deputy commander, 21st Operations Group, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, as the Department of Defense senior military assistant and chief of staff to the director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense. In addition, she has held staff assignments at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Headquarters 14th Air Force and the 381st Training Group and served as an Air Force Legislative Fellow in the office of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher.

Key assignments

Since August 2015, Armagno is responsible for developing strategy, doctrine and policy for the command's space and cyberspace operations; defining the future of space and cyberspace systems through requirements definition, mission area architectures, analysis, science and technology development in support of the joint warfighter, Department of Defense, civil, and national users.

With promotion to general officer rank on June 15, 2013, Armagno was assigned as Commander of the 45th Space Wing, or Director, Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. She was responsible for the processing and launching of U.S. government and commercial satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. She was also the final approval authority for all launches on the Eastern Range, a 15-million-square-mile area which supports an average of 15 launches per year aboard Delta, Atlas, Falcon, Navy and emerging launch vehicles. In addition, she managed wing launch and range infrastructure supporting NASA, commercial and missile test missions.

Awards and decorations

	Command Space Operations Badge
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge
	Air Staff Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
	Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Army Commendation Medal
	Air Force Achievement Medal
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
	Combat Readiness Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of rank

Rank	Date
Second lieutenant	June 1, 1988
First lieutenant	June 1, 1990
Captain	June 1, 1992
Major	October 1, 1999
Lieutenant colonel	March 1, 2003
Colonel	September 1, 2007
Brigadier general	June 12, 2013
Major general	June 15, 2016
Lieutenant General	August 17, 2020