Rich McManus, former senior technical advisor to the U.S. Strategic Command, has joined the U.S. Space Force as deputy director of its Force Design Integration Office, he announced in a LinkedIn post.
He built his 27-year career in the Department of Defense, serving in positions in the Armed Forces as well as in combatant commands.
McManus began as a mission commander and function check pilot for the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 5 under the U.S. Navy in Guam. He transferred to the Navy’s Helicopter Training Squadron 18 in Florida as an instruction pilot.
The executive’s first role in the U.S. combatant commands was chief of plans evaluation and research/experiments under the Strategic Command. He went on to become a crisis action planner for the Africa Command, and returned to STRATCOM as a strategic planner at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
Related Articles
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a proposed deal that would keep video-sharing platform TikTok operational in the U.S. while protecting national security. Engage with U.S. military leaders and top industry experts at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit as they tackle global defense challenges, from supply chain risks to sanctions and international regulations. Save your spot now for this Oct. 16 event to gain critical insights and connect with key decision-makers! ‘Qualified Divestiture’ of TikTok’s US Operations In a fact sheet published Thursday, the White House said TikTok’s U.S. operations would
Retired Vice Adm. Scott Pappano has been confirmed as principal deputy administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration. According to Congress records, legislators voted 51-47 to appoint Pappano. He also confirmed his new position in a LinkedIn post Thursday. Who Is Scott Pappano? President Donald Trump nominated Pappano to be principal deputy administrator for NNSA in February. Pappano is a seasoned military leader who most recently served as principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. He also held leadership positions at the Special Operations Forces Mobility Program Office and the Strategic and Attack Submarine
The General Services Administration and xAI have signed an agreement to make the latter’s Grok frontier artificial intelligence models available to federal agencies through March 2027. GSA said Thursday the partnership with xAI is part of the agency’s OneGov initiative, which aims to simplify the procurement of AI tools to help accelerate federal AI adoption. The new deal is reportedly the lowest price yet for an AI offering through the partnership. “Widespread access to advanced AI models is essential to building the efficient, accountable government that taxpayers deserve—and to fulfilling President Trump’s promise that America will win the global AI