Colonel Burke E. "Ed" Wilson serves as the commander of the Space Development and Test Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing's mission is to deliver small, responsive space capabilities to users across the national security space community. Colonel Wilson oversees a combined team of 1,000+ military, government civilians and contractors responsible for the development, acquisition, launch, demonstration, test and operations of Department of Defense and civil space systems.

Colonel Wilson entered the Air Force in 1985 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.

During his career, he has served in various duties to include space operations, acquisition, policy, strategy, planning and combat support. He previously commanded at the squadron and group levels, as well as served on the staffs of Air Force Space Command, U.S. Space Command, and the National Reconnaissance Office. Colonel Wilson also served as a Secretary of Defense corporate fellow at Cisco Systems where he received senior service college credit by training with corporate America.

Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Wilson served as the dual-hatted commander, Space Operations Group and deputy commander of a 3,000+ person satellite ground station responsible for the day-to-day and long-term mission success of several multi-billion dollar national space programs.

EDUCATION:

1985 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1986 Squadron Officer School, correspondence
1990 Master of Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Mass.
1990 Squadron Officer School, in residence, distinguished graduate
1998 Air Command and Staff College, in residence
1999 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell, AFB, Ala.
2004 Air War College, correspondence
2006 Joint Forces Staff College, in-residence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1985 - May 1988, Space Defense Operations Center design engineer; chief, SPADOC Systems Engineering Branch, Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
2. June 1988 - June 1990, Military Strategic and Tactical Relay systems engineer; program manager, MILSTAR Transportable Terminal, Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom AFB
3. July 1990 - June 1994, operations director; flight director; chief, Advanced Satellite Planning Division; chief, Advanced Satellite Management Division, Operational Detachment 4,
Onizuka AFB, Calif.
4. July 1994 - Dec. 1995, mission director; chief, Support to Military Operations Division, Overhead Collection Management Center, Fort Meade, Md.
5. Jan. 1996 - Feb. 1997, executive officer, deputy director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
6. March 1997 - July 1997, military assistant, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Space), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. July 1997 - June 1998, student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1998 - June 1999, student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB
9. July 1999 - June 2000, plans and programs officer; chief, Plans and Programs Branch, U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
10. July 2000 - June 2002, member/deputy director, Commander in Chief's Action Group, North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB
11. July 2002 - July 2003, commander, 1st Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing,
Schriever AFB, Colo.
12. July 2003 - July 2004, deputy commander, 50th Operations Group, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB
13. Aug. 2004 - May 2005, Secretary of Defense corporate fellow, Cisco Systems, San Jose, Calif.
14. June 2005 - June 200 6, director, Commander's Action Group, Air Force Space Command,
Peterson AFB
15. June 2006 - Sept. 2006, student, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
16. Sept. 2006 - April 2008, commander, Space Operations Group
17. April 2008 - Present, commander, Space Development and Test Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

RATINGS AND BADGES EARNED:

Command Space Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge
Basic Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
Certified Acquisition Professional: Program Management (Level III)
System Planning, Research and Development (Level III)
Test and Evaluation (Level I)

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Reconnaissance Organization's Distinguished Service Medal
National Reconnaissance Organization's Superior Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant May 28, 1985
First Lieutenant May 28, 1987
Captain May 28, 1989
Major Jan. 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2001
Colonel March 1, 2006

(Current as of October 2009)