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        STEVEN R. PETERSENMr. Steven R. Petersen, a Defense Intelligence Senior Leader, is the Senior Science Adviser, Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. He provides technical oversight of the directorate's research and development portfolio. He also leads initiatives to identify new sources and methods, accelerate the pace of technology development and reduce transition time. 
After 29 years of commissioned service, Mr. Petersen retired from the Air Force in 2006 at the rank of colonel. In his active-duty career he held positions in operations as well as research and development. Mr. Petersen flew on HH-53 and C-130 platforms as a flight test engineer developing equipment used in the aerial recovery of deorbited satellites, and he served as Director of Engineering and Support with Air Force Space Command's 73rd Space Group. 
Mr. Petersen organized and directed many space technology development programs, serving assignments with Space Division, the Air Force Space Technology Center, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Reconnaissance Office. He led the transition of launch warning technology to the first operational system fielded by BMDO, the ALERT Theater Missile Defense Program at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. Mr. Petersen also served staff assignments as an AFRL Program Element Monitor on the Air Staff and as Deputy Director of Engineering at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. **EDUCATION** 
1977 Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 
1980 Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
1983 Program Manager Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 
1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
1997 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2002 Senior Executive Seminar, Heinz School, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
2003 Senior Executive Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. **CAREER CHRONOLOGY** 
1. July 1977 - June 1979, engineer, Space Systems Recovery, 6594th Test Group, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 
2. July 1979 - December 1980, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
3. January 1981 - January 1983, Branch Chief, Advanced Warning System, Space Division, Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif. 
4. January 1983 - July 1983, student, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 
5. July 1983 - May 1987, Program Manager and Division Chief, Air Force Space Technology Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 
6. May 1987 - May 1989, Director of Engineering and Support, 73rd Space Surveillance Group, Falcon AFB, Colo. 
7. June 1989 - July 1990, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
8. August 1990 - October 1992, Chief of Future Requirements, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Falcon AFB, Colo. 
9. October 1992 - June 1996, program integrator and Assistant Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Washington, D.C. 
10. July 1996 - June 1997, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
11. June 1997- July 1999, Program Element Monitor, Science and Technology, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. 12. August 1999 - May 2002, Division Chief, Electro-Optical Technology, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
13. May 2002 - July 2004, Deputy Director for Engineering, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
14. August 2004 - July 2006, Director, Advanced Technology Group, Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. 
15. August 2006 - present, Senior Science Adviser, Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate, NRO, Chantilly, Va. **AWARDS AND HONORS** 
Defense Superior Service Medal 
Defense Meritorious Service Medal 
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters 
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star 
(Current as of December 2009)
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