Colonel Aaron T. Stevenson serves full-time as the Deputy Director of the Commercial Space Office (COMSO), Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, where he leads the integration of innovative commercial space capabilities into U.S. defense architectures. He directs a multidisciplinary team delivering operationally relevant, cost-effective space solutions to meet Space Operations Command and Combatant Commander requirements, while advancing industry, allied, and interagency partnerships to align with national defense priorities.
In a part-time capacity, Col. Stevenson also serves as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Commander of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), advising on strategic and operational planning for reserve support across the DoD’s largest flight simulation test enterprise. He supports full-spectrum integration of reserve capabilities for over 2,500 personnel and serves as the principal liaison to AFTC, AFMC, and AFRC on reserve manpower and policy implementation.
Col. Stevenson began his Air Force career as an enlisted team chief in July of 1994 installing fiber optic network infrastructure at air bases around the world. He then received his commission through the Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala. Col Stevenson’s acquisition experience spans air and space capabilities across Air Force Space Operations Command, military satellite communications, global power projection, missile warning and detection, space domain awareness, special programs, C5ISR and counterspace mission areas. He has extensive experience leading large teams to deliver air and space programs to the DoD in both government and industry roles.
Prior to his current position, Col. Stevenson was the deputy director of the Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) Systems Delta, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. He provided strategic leadership, technical oversight, and administration for a critically manned, eighty-member green door unit comprised of military, civilian, and contractor personnel. Col Stevenson synchronized space combat effects across multiple EW programs to meet cost, schedule and performance baselines, program executive office objectives, enterprise priorities, and senior leader guidance. He was also accountable for key delta level decisions, directing on behalf of, and representing the director of the EW Systems Delta when required.
As a civil servant, Col. Stevenson was the Space Systems Command’s chief of the engineering and cyber career fields where he led all military and civilian accessions and losses for both career fields. He organized, trained and equipped the USSF’s engineering and cyber workforce composed of over 700 military and government civilian personnel. He also led several recruiting, internship and STEM outreach activities to ensure a steady pipeline of Space Force engineering & cyber talent continued to be maintained during a period of unparalleled attrition challenges due to a world-wide pandemic where entire industries shifted to full-time remote work.