Brig. Gen. Mark Baird, vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles, has been named director of space programs within the U.S. Air Force‘s office of the assistant secretary for acquisition.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein announced Baird’s new assignment in a Defense Department release published Friday.
Baird has managed research, design, development, acquisition and sustainment of space and missile systems as well as launch, command and control and operational satellite systems as SMC vice commander.
His 27-year military career also includes roles as special assistant to the commander for ground based strategic deterrent at the Air Force Materiel Command; commander of the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency; and director of SMC’s space superiority systems directorate.
Baird also served as chief of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle acquisition division at SMC and a senior materiel leader at the National Reconnaissance Office.
He held various acquisition-related positions such as contingency contracting officer, procuring contracting officer, program manager, headquarters staff officer and squadron commander during his military service.
