The Honorable John F. Plumb served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy from March 2022 to May 2024.  In that role he was responsible for the overall supervision of policy for the Department of Defense for space warfighting.  His policy portfolio encompassesd the Department’s strategic capabilities for integrated deterrence: space, nuclear weapons, cyber, missile defense, electromagnetic warfare, and countering weapons of mass destruction. 

Dr. Plumb has three decades of service in various national security roles both in and out of uniform.  He started his career as an active duty US Navy submarine officer, serving onboard a fast attack Los Angeles-class submarine and then as an instructor at the Navy’s nuclear power school.  He transitioned to the Navy reserves, commanding eight different reserve units over 20 years, and retiring as a Captain in 2022.  In his civilian career he has held national security roles in the Senate, the Pentagon, and on the National Security Council staff at the White House.  Prior to his confirmation he ran (unsuccessfully) for Congress, then spent several years working for two of the Department’s Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: first as a Senior Engineer at the Rand Corporation, and then as Chief of Government Relations for the Aerospace Corporation.  He is currently working as an independent consultant.

He holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado.  His academic awards include the University of Notre Dame Student Leadership Award and an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science & Technology Fellowship sponsored by the Institute of Navigation.  His personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal.  His civil service awards include the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award, the Department of State Superior Honor Award, and the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award.