John Shaw has 33+ years of experience in the national security space and aerospace engineering business with a focus on leading large-scale technical, global organizations, and with unique proven strengths in executive decision-making, strategic risk management, joint all-domain operations, combat operations at all levels, organizational transformation, strategic culture transformation, and the innovative integration of allied/international and commercial capabilities into national security mission areas.
John’s last active duty assignment, as a three-star general in the U.S Space Force, was as Deputy Commander of United States Space Command at Peterson Space Force Base, CO, where he directed 12,000+ personnel worldwide and oversaw a $525M budget to defend the nation’s critical space capabilities and to deliver space effects to terrestrial warfighters and to human society. Before joining U.S. Space Command, John commanded 14th Air Force and the Combined Forces Space Component Command at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, leading 10,000+ personnel across the globe that organized, trained, and equipped Air Force space forces and executed global space operations, in teamwork with international partners.
Prior to his assignment at 14th Air Force, John spent thirty years as a leader of large, complex, and highly technical organizations associated with some of the world’s most critical space units and platforms, including the squadron that operates the MILSTAR and Advanced EHF strategic satellite communication systems, and the Air Force’s largest space operations group that operated over 200 satellites for national leadership, U.S. and allied military, and civil and federal agencies. He also commanded the Air Force’s fourth largest and most geographically diverse wing, the 21st Space Wing, which included units, personnel and equipment planet-wide, ranging from the central Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific to Europe and above the Arctic Circle.
John holds multiple academic degrees in technical and strategic management fields, including a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering with Russian Language minor from the US Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Organizational Management from The George Washington University. He is a noted public speaker and has delivered dozens of keynotes at various conferences and interviews to the media. He has also authored or co-authored many works on space-focused strategy, security, and policy, including his recent pioneering theory work on Dynamic Space Operations.
John lives in Colorado with his partner Tonia. He is an avid runner, skier, hiker, fly fisher, reader, wine enthusiast, chessplayer, and musician.