Charles Galbreath is a Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

Background: Charles is a retired United States Space Force Colonel; a Command Space Operator with expertise in Missile Warning, Space Control, Space Launch, and ICBM operations; and a Senior Materiel Leader with experience developing advanced technology demonstration and prototype systems. Prior to joining Mitchell, Charles served as the Deputy Chief Technology and Innovation Officer on the Headquarters United Space Force staff. Throughout his military career, Charles served in a variety of space operation, acquisition, test, and staff positions, including Deputy Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Deputy Director for Innovation and Prototyping, Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans in OSD Space Policy, Deputy Commander for the 30th Launch Group, Squadron Commander for Missile Defense Agency’s demonstration satellites, and program manager for advanced space control capabilities. He also deployed to Afghanistan as the Space Liaison to Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force. In addition, he was an Air Force Fellow to the RAND Corporation.

Areas of focus: He’s an established voice on space operations, acquisitions, and policy with a focus on space control, advanced technology, acquisitions, and digital transformation. In addition, he will provide a research focus on spacepower strategies and policies for MI-SPACE.

Academic and professional titles: Charles received his undergraduate degree from Northrop University, majoring in Aerospace Engineering.  He also earned a Masters of Administrative Science from the University of Montana, a Masters Degree in Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Military and Operational Art and Sciences from Air University as part of Air Command and Staff College where he was a Distinguished Graduate and won the Space Research Award.