Brig. Gen. Jody A. Merritt is the Mobilization Assistant to the Combined Force Space Component Commander, U. S. Space Command, and Commander, Space Operations, Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

As the Mobilization Assistant Commander of U.S. Space Command’s Combined Force Space Component Command, Brig. Gen. Merritt assists in leading more than 17,000 joint and combined personnel with a mission to plan, integrate, conduct and assess global space operations in order to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint force and the nation. Brig. Gen. Merritt assists in planning and executing space operations through four distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, including the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, California; the Missile Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado; the Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Planning Center at Buckley AFB, Colorado, and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

As Commander of U.S. Space Force’s Space Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Merritt assists with providing space capabilities such as space domain awareness, space electronic warfare, satellite communications, missile warning, nuclear detonation detection, environmental monitoring; military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; command and control, navigation warfare and positioning, navigation and timing, in support of U.S. Space Command and the other combatant commands.

Brig. Gen. Merritt was commissioned in 1989 through the U.S. Air Force Academy graduating with military distinction. She is a Command Space Operator with operations in seven Department of Defense satellite missions. Brig. Gen. Merritt is a graduate of the Air Force Intern Program, with assignments to the Joint Staff supporting the chairman’s office, secretary of state and president on the Middle East Peace Process. In her civilian role, Brig. Gen. Merritt is a certified Program Management Professional, technical and business development leader. She is also a partner and founder at Woden, a small consulting firm.

EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics with a minor in Spanish, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1991 Master of Science, Management Information Systems, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio
1997 Air Force Intern Program, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
1997 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2015 Senior Requirements Leader, Level C Certification, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with oak leaf cluster