Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Lt. Gen. DeAnna M. Burt’s career, commands, and role leading U.S. Space Force operations.
Career & Background
Who She Is & How She Got There
Who is DeAnna Burt?
DeAnna M. Burt is a retired Lieutenant General who served 33 years in uniform, transferring from the U.S. Air Force into the newly created U.S. Space Force in May 2021. She retired on October 1, 2025, after serving as Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear — a role she described as the Space Force’s “chief operating officer.”
What is her educational background?
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1991 as a distinguished AFROTC graduate, and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Troy State University in 1995. She is also a distinguished graduate of the USAF Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
What major commands has she held?
Her command assignments include the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2008–2010, operating GPS), the 460th Operations Group (2012–2014, missile warning), the 50th Space Wing (2015–2017), and the Combined Force Space Component Command at Vandenberg AFB (November 2020–August 2022), a joint, multinational command including allied personnel from nations such as Canada, Germany, and France.
Career & Background
Milestones & Recognition
Is she a “first” in any way?
Yes. Burt was the first female major general in United States Space Force history and became the first woman to hold general-officer rank in the service upon her transfer in May 2021. She was the second female general officer overall, after Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno.
When did she retire?
Burt retired on October 1, 2025, after 33 years of service. In her SpaceNews retirement interview, her advice to Guardians was to “become an expert in your weapon system” and to keep building digital literacy, framing continued learning as essential to the force’s future.
What awards has she received?
Her decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, among numerous other service and campaign awards earned across her career.
Her Final Role
Deputy Chief of Space Operations
What did her final role involve?
From December 2022 to September 2025, Burt served as Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, carrying overall responsibility for operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations across the entire Space Force. She was confirmed by the Senate on November 30, 2022, and promoted to lieutenant general the following day.
What is GMTI, and what was her role in it?
Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) is a joint program with the National Reconnaissance Office and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to track moving ground and maritime targets from orbit. Burt was the Space Force’s senior operational voice on the effort, describing it as a “crawl, walk, run” build-up and emphasizing AI and machine learning as essential to processing the volume of data involved.
What has she said about the Space Force budget?
In her SpaceNews retirement interview, Burt argued that funding should match stated priorities, calling it a “put your money where your mouth is” moment, and said the service needs consistent annual budget growth rather than relying on one-off reconciliation increases.
Themes & Priorities
Recurring Public Positions
What themes has she consistently emphasized?
- Space as a warfighting domain — insisting Guardians are operators and warfighters, not support personnel.
- “Guardians first, specialists second” — a common operator identity across cyber, intel, acquisition, and space operations.
- Digital literacy and AI/ML adoption — framed as essential to closing “kill chains” and enabling GMTI/AMTI targeting.
- Sustained, predictable budget growth — advocating for annual funding increases and on-time appropriations.
- Allied and commercial integration — emphasizing information-sharing with partners and leveraging commercial capability.
- Readiness normalization — supporting the “prepare, ready, commit” Space Force Generation model.
Other Questions
Additional Engagements
Where else has she appeared or been featured?
- StarTalk Radio with Neil deGrasse Tyson — “Space Force: A New Domain” (2021, rebroadcast 2026)
- AFA Warfare Symposium, Aurora, Colorado — GMTI panel (February 2024)
- Mitchell Institute Schriever Spacepower Series — operations, cyber, GMTI/AMTI, and culture (August 2025)
- SpaceNews retirement interview — “Burt’s Parting Thoughts” (August 2025)
- Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium — leadership and milestone lane (June 2024)
- Space Force Association, “Flight Line to Front Office” — first-person profile (April 2026)
