Colonel Chris Castle

Deputy Commander US Space Forces - Europe and Africa

Col. Chris Castle is the U.S Space Forces-Europe & Africa Deputy Commander (for U.S. European Command) at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. He is embedded in the U.S. European Command staff, where his duties include facilitating the timely flow of information, advancing the component commander's priorities, and serving as the component's representative in the Joint Operations Center (JOC) during crisis or contingency operations. Col. Castle was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from the University of Arizona's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), Detachment 020. In October 2020, he transferred services to join the U.S. Space Force. He has operated multiple weapon systems, including the Minuteman III Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) system, the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), and the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR). He has twice served as Chief of Training (wing level), and twice served as an executive officer (wing and headquarters level). Prior to his current position, he was the Tracking Cell Mission Integration Lead, Space Development Agency, Chantilly, VA. Col. Castle has been an active member of the Language Enabled Airmen Program (LEAP) since its inception in 2010, maintaining 3/3 level proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese. EDUCATION 2002 Bachelor of Arts, History, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. 2008 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2014 Master of Arts, Military History, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va. 2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence ASSIGNMENTS 1. October 2002 – September 2003, Student, Officer Space Prerequisite Training and MM III Initial Qualification Training, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. 2. September 2003 – July 2004, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, 741st Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. 3. July 2004 – September 2005, Instructor Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. 4. September 2005 – August 2006, Missile Combat Crew Commander, 741st Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. 5. August 2006 – January 2009, Instructor Missile Combat Crew Commander, Chief of Requirements, Emergency War Order Instructor, and Chief, Emergency War Order Training, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. 6. January 2009 – September 2009, Crew Commander, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo. 7. September 2009 – January 2011, Plans and Programs Flight Commander and Chief, Operations Training, 460th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo. UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE 8. January 2011 – July 2012, Wing Executive Officer, 460th Space Wing, Buckley AFB, Colo. 9. July 2012 – August 2014, USAF Liaison Officer, RAF Fylingdales, United Kingdom 10. August 2014 – June 2015, Director of Operations, 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland 11. June 2015 – August 2016, Special Assistant to the Commander, 460th Operations Group, Buckley AFB, Colo. 12. August 2016 – April 2019, Chief, Readiness Branch and Chief, Plans Branch, Directorate of Operations and Communications, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. (October 2017 – April 2018, Deputy Chief, Internal Review Branch, Headquarters, Combined-Joint Task Force Inherent Resolve, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait) 13. April 2019 – June 2020, Executive Officer, Office of the Executive Director, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. 14. June 2020 – June 2022, Chief, Plans Branch, Strategy and Plans Division, Combined Space Operations Center, Vandenberg SFB, Calif. 15. June 2022 – July 2023, Commander, 13th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Space Force Station, Alaska 16. July 2023 – July 2024, Lead, Tracking Cell Mission Integration, Space Development Agency, Chantilly, Va. 17. July 2024 – July 2025, U.S. Space Forces Europe-Africa Liaison Officer, Headquarters, U.S. European Command and Headquarters, U.S. Africa Command, Patch Barracks, Germany 18. July 2025 – today, U.S. Space Forces Europe-Africa Deputy Commander (for U.S. European Command), Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 2020 – June 2022, Chief, Plans Branch, Strategy and Plans Division, Combined Space Operations Center, Vandenberg SFB, Calif., as a lieutenant colonel MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2009 Distinguished Graduate, SBIRS Initial Qualification Training EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 9, 2002 First Lieutenant June 9, 2004 Captain June 9, 2006 Major June 1, 2012 Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2017 Colonel September 1, 2024.